- Ukraine said on Tuesday that its special forces raided a Russian mining platform in the Black Sea.
- The facility was used to support Moscow’s drone operations and control the area, Kyiv said.
- Ukrainian troops stole Russian equipment and mined the platform during the nighttime raid.
On Tuesday, Kyiv revealed that Ukrainian special forces conducted a raid and subsequently destroyed a mining platform in the Black Sea, which Russia had been utilizing to support its drone operations.
According to Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, Russia had previously seized the platform, situated near the coast of the occupied Crimean peninsula, and equipped it to bolster its drone capabilities with Iranian-made technology, based on unspecified intelligence.
Furthermore, Ukraine stated that Moscow had installed a radar on the platform to monitor Black Sea ships and exert greater control over the region. The nighttime raid, captured on video and circulated on social media, saw Ukrainian forces approaching the platform via fast boats, evading Russian aircraft and navy patrols.
Upon reaching the platform, Ukrainian troops conducted a thorough search, planted explosives, and departed with seized equipment.
Subsequently, the Ukrainian forces demolished the platform’s mast and antenna, effectively neutralizing its operational capabilities.
The exact timing of the operation, known as “Citadel,” remains unclear. However, Ukraine celebrated it on Tuesday, labeling it a success and highlighting its role in improving the safety of ship movements in the Black Sea while also constraining Russia’s influence in the region.
Ukrainian special forces have conducted multiple raids aimed at Russian-held assets in the Black Sea and areas surrounding Crimea.
In August, Kyiv’s forces executed an amphibious raid into a small village located at the westernmost edge of Crimea. Here, they engaged in combat with Russian troops and planted a Ukrainian flag—a symbolic gesture, coinciding with the observation of Independence Day by the country’s people.
In the subsequent month, Ukraine unveiled footage showcasing its forces reclaiming control of gas drilling platforms positioned off the coast of Crimea. These platforms had been seized by Russia in 2015, following its unlawful annexation of the peninsula the year before.
Over the nearly two-year-long conflict, the Black Sea has become a significant battleground, distinct from the extensive front lines spanning eastern and southern Ukraine.
Despite Ukraine’s limited naval capabilities, it has effectively utilized a potent arsenal of explosive drone boats and long-range cruise missiles from Western allies. These tactics have inflicted significant damage on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and targeted critical positions in Crimea over recent months.
As of last week, Ukraine reported utilizing homemade naval drones to sink a Russian warship, the Ivanovets, stationed in northwestern Crimea. Kyiv has executed similar attacks on numerous occasions. Ukraine’s defense ministry disclosed on Tuesday that it has successfully destroyed or damaged 24 Russian ships and one submarine since the conflict commenced in February 2022, accounting for a third of the warships constituting the Black Sea Fleet.