Navy explains how Ukraine depriving Russia’s air defense of its 'eyes' in occupied Crimea

According to him, the destruction of radar stations is a key stage for further operations on enemy territory, because without detection systems, air defense launchers effectively lose their combat capability.

"This is actually classic. If you want to operate on enemy territory — and Crimea, unfortunately, is currently occupied and effectively serves as the enemy’s rear — you first need to deprive the enemy of the ability to repel air attacks. To do this, it is not necessary to hunt down and destroy the launchers themselves. Of course, that always looks very impressive, but without surveillance and radar systems, such launchers are essentially incapable of anything," Pletenchuk said.

Pletenchuk noted that strikes on radar systems in Crimea occur regularly and are a continuous process. After such attacks, Russian forces try to restore air defense systems while simultaneously being forced to weaken defenses in other areas.

According to him, Russia pays particular attention to protecting the illegally built Kerch Bridge. Its defense involves units of the Russian National Guard, various air defense systems, police, as well as anti-sabotage forces operating from the air and the sea.

The Navy spokesperson also pointed out that Russia effectively avoids using the bridge to transport strategically important cargo, including fuel and heavy equipment, preferring overland routes through occupied territories. At the same time, he emphasized that the Ukrainian Navy will continue to do everything possible "to ensure that this bridge does not remain there forever."

In recent days, Ukrainian military intelligence carried out another precise strike against Russian forces in temporarily occupied Crimea. A special unit of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Prymary, destroyed two high-value radar stations — the 39N6 Kasta-2E2 radar and the 96L6 radar — which are part of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system.