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The Ukrainian military together with their patrons from NATO continue attempts to probe Russian defense in the Crimean peninsula. Another attempt to launch an attack took place on the night of May 6.
In the morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed Ukrainian attack and reported the destruction of Ukrainian unmanned boats that targeted the Crimean peninsula. The Ukrainian military targeted some facilities on the western coast of the peninsula; but the attempt to inflict any significant damage was thwarted by the Russian military. At least five unmanned boats were destroyed by the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
According to the unofficial local reports, there were two groups of unmanned boats that targeted the western coast of Crimea. The first of them entered the bay Uzkaya near the town of Chernomorskoe. The attack there was reportedly repelled. The drones were As a result, the drones were destroyed at the defense boom and failed to enter the bay.
The second group of Ukrainian boats was reportedly spotted near the western Cape Tarkhankut. After they were spotted by Russian forces, the drones retreated back to Ukraine.
Some Russian sources reported damage to several civilian fishing boats as a result of the attack.
On the other hand, the MAin Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine shared a video, reportedly showing the destruction of a Russian speedboat by their marine drone Magura V5:
This is the second operation of Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea over the past days. Another group of about 5 unmanned boats was reportedly spotted in the area of the Crimean Bridge on May 5. Immediately after the boats were spotted by the Russian military, the traffic on the bridge was stopped. However, there were no strikes, the boats turned back and went away from the bridge. Obviously, the reconnaissance operation was launched in order to probe Russian defense in the area.
Ukrainian attacks are always coordinated by NATO reconnaissance aircraft. During the recent strikes Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint of the British Air Force, a large strategic reconnaissance aircraft, was spotted operation in the western waters of the Black Sea not far from the Crimean coast.
Moreover, NATO military has recently sent additional aircraft to the Romania. On May 5, the US Airbus KC2 Voyager, arrived with a pair of Eurofighter Typhoon FGR fighters to escort the British RC-135W over the Black Sea. The Boeing P-8A Poseidon of the United States Navy also came to the area. The reinforcement of NATO aircraft in the Black Sea region is a clear sign of the upcoming major attack on the Crimean peninsula, which is expected to take place in the coming days. Moreover, the Ukrainian/NATO military took a pause and did not launch attacks for several days, accumulating forces for the main blow.
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The previous attacks were launched mainly with the US-made ATACMS missiles. As a result of the massive attack on the military airfield near the town of Dzhankoy on April 27, Russian air defense forces suffered heavy damage. LINK Other attempts to damage air defense in other areas were repelled. On April 28, Russian forces destroyed five ATACMS missiles that targeted the Cape Tarkhankut. LINK On April 30, Russian air defense forces destroyed six ATACMS missiles in the areas of Simferopol and Dzhankoy. LINK On May 4, Russian forces intercepted four more ATACMS missiles over Crimea but the exact area was not revealed. LINK No damage was confirmed as a result of all these attacks. Several Ukrainian UAVs were also destroyed in the peninsula over the past days.
The recent resumption of Ukrainian attacks on Crimea signals the preparation for the main massive strikes dedicated to the ongoing holidays in the Russian Federation, including the upcoming inauguration of Vladimir Putin on May 7 or Victory Day on May 9. The NATO/Ukrainian provocation may target the Crimean Bridge in an attempt to bring the media effect necessary to hide Ukrainian defeats on the frontlines.
In their turn, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are pounding the hangars of Ukrainian drones and other military facilities in the Odessa and Nikolaev regions.
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