- Ukrainian Troops Land in Occupied Crimea
- Objectives Achieved in Special Operation
- President Zelensky Urges Citizens to Preserve Independence
As the nation celebrates 32 years of independence, Ukraine asserts that its troops briefly landed overnight on the occupied Crimean peninsula.
According to the defence ministry, all objectives of the “special operation” were accomplished without any casualties.
During a firefight in Olenivka and Mayak, in western Crimea, “the enemy suffered losses,” the report added.
In 2014, Russia unlawfully annexed Crimea from Ukraine, eight years prior to Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The Kremlin has made no public statements regarding the alleged Ukrainian operation.
The primary intelligence division of the Ukrainian defence ministry claimed responsibility for Thursday’s operation in a Telegram message. It was stated that the Ukrainian Navy provided assistance.
It was stated that “special units on watercraft landed on shore” prior to engaging in combat with Russian personnel stationed in the region.
“Also, the Ukrainian flag was once again flying in Crimea,” the statement continued.
The department of intelligence published a brief video purporting to show Ukrainian soldiers hoisting the national flag. There are gunshot sounds audible in the footage.
The Ukrainian television channel Suspilne reported that aircraft and naval vessels were involved in the conflict. In addition, a Russian Telegram channel reported combat in the region.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine issued an Independence Day message on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which he urged his nation’s citizens to help preserve the country’s independence.
“In this battle, every soldier counts. Because the struggle is for something that is vital to all, Mr. Zelensky explained.
According to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, the significance of Independence Day among Ukrainians has increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. It is now the third most significant holiday in the country, after Easter and Christmas.
In June, the Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in an attempt to expel the Russians from territory they had captured in the country’s east and south.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the United States assert that the advances near Robotyne and Urozhaine are “likely tactically significant due to the structure of Russian defensive lines.” In addition, they observe that Russian forces have exerted considerable effort to defend the settlements.
Russia has also accused Ukraine of conducting drone attacks, with the most recent incident occurring on August 23. It struck a building under construction in Moscow.
The next day, it was revealed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the mercenary group that fought alongside Russia in the conflict, was on the passenger list of a private jet that crashed shortly after taking off from Moscow.
In June, Mr. Prigozhin conducted a failed coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
