Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill At Least Five in Crimea and Krasnodar

Ukrainian drone attacks across Crimea and Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight killed at least five people and injured dozens, with Russian-installed authorities reporting four deaths and 28 injuries on the Kerch Peninsula.

“At least four people have been killed in Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea that have hit an oil depot and fuel facilities that Russia uses to supply its forces, Russian-installed authorities say”

Al Jazeera

In Crimea’s Kerch Peninsula, Sergey Aksyonov said a drone strike killed four people and wounded 28 others, while a Russian Health Ministry aide said 14 of the injured remained hospitalized, including two children in critical condition.

Al Jazeera

Russian authorities also said a Ukrainian drone struck a ferry in the Kerch ferry crossing area of Temryuk district, killing one person and injuring another, and an oil terminal in Temryuk district came under a Ukrainian drone attack.

In Sevastopol, authorities said a Ukrainian drone carrying explosives fell onto the roof of an apartment building in the city centre after being jammed by electronic warfare systems, and the building was evacuated as a precaution with bomb disposal experts removing explosives from the wreckage.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defence systems shot down 239 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over Crimea, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea.

Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, said “Unfortunately, there have been civilian casualties as a result of the enemy drone attack on the Kerch Peninsula,” and he reported “Current information indicates four people have been killed and 28 injured.”

Aksyonov also announced that fuel stations across Crimea suspended sales to the public, with supplies reserved for essential state services, adding “Fuel will only be dispensed to state services that ensure the vital activities and security of the Republic of Crimea.”

Anadolu Ajansı

Ukraine’s General Staff said it struck an oil terminal in Kerch, causing a fire, and described the facility as “one of the key facilities for transshipment and storage of fuel and lubricant materials in Crimea.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that “Last night, our long-range sanctions targeted the occupiers’ military logistics, oil industry, and air defense,” framing the strikes as “just a response to Russia’s brutal attacks against our people.”

The attacks triggered disruptions in transport and energy supply, with Russian authorities closing the bridge linking Kerch with Krasnodar to traffic overnight and temporarily suspending ferry services across the Kerch Strait.

The Kyiv Independent reported that gas stations in Russian-occupied Crimea were instructed as of June 21 to completely suspend sales of fuel to civilians, quoting Aksyonov: “Fuel will only be dispensed to state services that ensure the vital activities and security of the Republic of Crimea,” and adding that the ban was effective as of 9 a.m. on June 21.

Ukraine’s strikes were also tied in the sources to efforts to isolate Crimea, with the Kyiv Independent citing that Kyiv aims to turn the peninsula “into an island” by striking Russian supply chains to isolate Crimea from mainland Russia.

In parallel, the DW report said Zelenskyy confirmed the attacks on Crimea and Krasnodar and quoted him saying “Facilities on both sides of the Crimean Bridge were hit,” including maritime logistics used to transport oil in the Krasnodar region and an oil depot in temporarily occupied Kerch.