The coastal town of Sevastopol in Crimea has been put on high alert by Russian authorities amidst the looming threat of further assaults from Ukraine. As the city awoke to the blare of sirens on Wednesday, the Crimean Bridge – the primary link between the peninsula and Russia – and all sea transport were brought to a halt.
Recently, Ukraine has mounted several attacks in the region of Crimea, a territory claimed by Russia in 2014. These assaults have targeted a Russian airbase on the peninsula and the command post of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, as part of Ukraine’s strategy to undermine Russia’s hold over the maritime region.
Moreover, Ukrainian forces have been blamed by Russia for the attempted murder of Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian political figure, in Yalta. In addition, the Crimean Bridge had previously been the subject of an attack in July.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, despite the less than favourable outcome of the much-hyped counteroffensive, is rallying his nation to prepare for a winter campaign predicted to be severe.
The Ukrainian leadership harbours the aspiration that diminishing the strength of Russian forces in the Black Sea will ultimately lead to their victory in the ongoing conflict. President Zelenskyy, in a meeting of the Crimea Platform on October 24, boldly declared the “illusion” of Russian control over Crimea and the Black Sea to be dispelled.
He stated that the Russian fleet was no longer functional in the western Black Sea region and was steadily retreating from Crimea, terming this as a ‘historic achievement’. These attacks underscore the burgeoning capabilities of Kyiv, which now include naval drones. In contrast, Moscow continues to launch long-range missiles and assault drones at Ukraine from a distance.
In the previous week, the Russian defence ministry reported the successful interception of three unmanned Ukrainian boats due to “a set of mine and anti-sabotage measures” in Sevastopol Bay.
On Wednesday, Ukraine reported that over a 24-hour span, Russia had bombarded over 100 settlements, marking the highest number of attacks recorded in a single day in 2023.
President Zelenskyy, addressing attendees of a diplomatic initiative in Prague, expressed his confidence about gaining complete control over Crimea and the surrounding waters in due time.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military reported a successful assault on a Crimean Russian air defence base using naval drones and missiles. As this strategy continues and criticism of Ukraine’s progress with its counteroffensive grows, Zelenskyy sought to inspire his troops and citizens with a message of patience, perseverance and concentration on the ultimate goal.
In his Tuesday video address, he stated, “We live in a world that gets used to success too quickly. When the full-scale invasion began, many people around the world did not believe that Ukraine would survive. Glory to all those who do not retreat, who do not burn out, who believe in Ukraine just as they did on February 24, and who has been fighting for unwaveringly.”
