Russia fears landing in occupied Crimea and strengthens its defenses - Navy
Photo: Dmytro Pletenchuk (facebook.com/Taclbery)
Russians are convinced that Ukrainian forces may land in Crimea and are strengthening the defense of the occupied peninsula, states Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk in an interview with The Kyiv Independent.
According to the spokesperson, there is a military principle: territory is not considered liberated until an infantry soldier sets foot on it. In the case of the Navy, this task falls to the Marine Corps, which is currently practicing amphibious operations.
Pletenchuk explained that amphibious operations are extremely complex and are carried out only as part of a larger offensive operation.
"If necessary, we will of course conduct any operation required to liberate Ukrainian Crimea," he stressed.
The Navy spokesperson compared a possible landing in Crimea to the Omaha Beach operation, as Ukrainian forces would have to overcome fortified and mined coastlines, machine-gun nests, and shelters under conditions of enemy air support.
Strikes on bridges to Crimea
On June 7, the Chongar Bridge was struck for the first time. After that, traffic across the crossing was partially restored in a reversible (alternating) mode.
Later, on June 9, the site was hit again by drones, which led to a complete suspension of transport links. After this, the occupation administration began recommending alternative routes via Armyansk and Perekop.
The Center for Countering Disinformation of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council stated that the series of drone strikes effectively put the Chongar Bridge out of service.
In addition, on the morning of June 10, the bridge between Henichesk and the Arabat Spit in the occupied Kherson region was blocked. This is the second major crossing whose movement was restricted by the occupation authorities within days of the attacks on the Chongar Bridge.
On the night of June 11, explosions were also reported in occupied Crimea. Local Telegram channels wrote about fires in Simferopol and Sevastopol, as well as possible damage to bridges leading to the peninsula.
On June 13, Russians again reported attacks on bridges to Crimea. According to collaborator Volodymyr Saldo, drones struck the bridge between Henichesk and the Arabat Spit.
