Ukraine Initiates Significant Drone Strike in Crimea While Russia Attempts to Seize Avdiivka

Ukrainian forces have carried out a significant drone assault on Crimea, a territory annexed by Moscow, marking one of the largest such attacks since Russia’s invasion began 21 months ago, according to Russian officials on Friday.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian authorities reported intensified efforts by Russian forces in their ongoing, weeks-long effort to seize Avdiivka, a key eastern Ukrainian city.

These increased actions occur as both sides strive to demonstrate progress, with the conflict nearing 2024. Despite a Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June, neither side has made substantial territorial gains, and analysts anticipate a prolonged war.

As winter sets in, bringing challenging weather conditions to the battlefield, both Ukraine and Russia are looking to capture strategic areas for potential future advances.

Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed governor in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, stated that Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Crimea early Friday. He claimed that numerous drones were intercepted over the province and in northern Crimea.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 was widely regarded as illegal by the international community, and the peninsula has since been used as a logistic base in the ongoing war.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and an additional three over the Volgograd region in southern Russia.

The accuracy of these battlefield claims from either side could not be independently confirmed.

Russia’s efforts to capture Avdiivka began on October 10, involving heavy bombardment and reportedly incurring significant losses. The city has been heavily damaged, mirroring the destruction seen in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces eventually took after nine months of intense fighting.

Avdiivka’s strategic position, near Donetsk in the region of the same name, offers Ukrainian forces artillery advantages over the city and could be a pivotal point for liberating Donetsk.

Vitalii Barabash, the head of Avdiivka’s military administration, noted that Russian troops have intensified their assault on the city, using heavy artillery and aerial bombardments and changing their tactics from column attacks to spreading along the front lines.

He added that the city is facing up to 40 bombardments daily.