Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reports successful mission in Russian-annexed Crimea

Ukraine’s defense intelligence forces landed early today on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, as part of a joint operation by the Ukrainian navy and intelligence forces.

The Ukrainian news outlets Hromadske and Suspilne quoted a speaker in the Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, who said that the mission achieved its goals without costing Ukraine any personnel.

“We’re not revealing all the details; the enemy had some losses in personnel, as well as materiel. Information about losses is being verified,” Yusov said.

The Crimean news outlet Krym.Realii writes that explosions were heard at 5 a.m. this morning near the village of Mayak on the Crimean Tarkhankut Peninsula. According to the publication, a battle involving boats and aircraft erupted in the area.

The news channel Baza writes that “unknown people” in inflatable boats opened fire on the Olenivka Village campsite located close to Mayak. According to the news channel Shot, four boats and their crews were neutralized by the shore, with 15–20 Ukrainian combatants killed in the clash.

The Russian-installed government of the annexed Crimea hasn’t made any comment on this morning’s events.

A day earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence reported the destruction of the Russian S-400 Triumf missile system, also located near Olenivka and the village of Mayak. The agency said this would be a major blow to the Russian air-defense positions on the peninsula, with far-reaching consequences for the future of the occupied Crimea.

In May, Ukraine’s defense intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov described conducting another mission in Crimea in 2016, when the unit under his command decimated the Russian FSB Spetsnaz formation Vympel.