Russia retaliates against Crimea attack with strikes on Ukraine

The Russian military launched missiles and UAVs into Ukraine in retaliation for an attack on the Foros residential area in Crimea.

Overnight, Russian armed forces launched a coordinated attack on Ukrainian special forces and "foreign mercenaries of the Ghost unit" of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine in Odessa province, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 23/9.

The agency stated that the strikes were in response to Ukraine's attack the previous day on the Foros residential area in Crimea. That attack killed three people, injured 16, and damaged a resort and a school.

A building burns in Odessa province, Ukraine, after the Russian attack on 23/9. Photo: DSNS Ukraine

A building burns in Odessa province, Ukraine, after the Russian attack on 23/9. Photo: DSNS Ukraine

The Russian military also targeted a UAV warehouse at Shkolny airport in Odessa province, "from where the Ukrainian military launched UAVs at civilian infrastructure in Crimea." Another attack targeted workshops of the Motor Sich defense company, which manufactures UAVs for the Ukrainian military.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with three Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 115 UAVs, including 60 Geran drones. The Ukrainian Air Force shot down 103 UAVs. The remaining drones and the three Iskander-M missiles hit six locations, with debris falling in eight other areas.

The Ukrainian military also launched multiple UAV attacks against its neighbor on the same day. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that its air defenses shot down approximately 150 Ukrainian UAVs. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that 36 Ukrainian UAVs were downed while attempting to approach the Russian capital.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly attacked each other's critical infrastructure, including railway systems and energy facilities. Both sides accuse each other of targeting civilian sites while claiming to only aim at military targets. These attacks are occurring amid stalled peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.