2023-09-15 05:09:44
2023-09-15 13:09 Compiled by Lianhe Daily: Xu Yuhan/Real-time reporting
Ukrainian intelligence sources revealed that the Ukrainian army attacked Crimea with drones and missiles on the 14th and successfully destroyed an advanced Russian air defense system worth US$1.2 billion (approximately NT$38.3 billion).
The BBC and Archyde.com quoted Ukrainian intelligence sources as saying that the Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) and the naval counterintelligence department were involved in an attack in the town of Yevpatoria in the western part of the Crimean Peninsula at around 5:30 a.m. local time on the 14th. A joint operation was conducted near Yevpatoria and successfully destroyed Russia’s advanced S-400 “Triumf” air defense system.
Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Telegram that the attack on the town of Yevpatoria was carefully planned using drones and domestically produced Neptune missiles.
Well-known Russian blogger Rybar reported on the possible course of this operation. Before the attack, Ukraine sent a drone to attack a Russian ship in the Black Sea. According to Rybar, the air defense system fired munitions to shoot down the drone, thereby revealing its location. Ukraine waited until it had fired all its munitions before targeting it with cruise missiles.
It was not possible to independently verify Rybar’s report, which described the air defense system as S-300 rather than S-400.
A video circulated on social media showed what appeared to be an explosion and fire in the distance, with a huge flash of light. Then plumes of smoke rose into the night sky.
Russia has yet to respond but did say its air defenses shot down 11 Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight.
The U.S. Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment. An unnamed intelligence source told the BBC that the missile was considered Moscow’s equivalent of the US Patriot missile and cost regarding $1.2 billion.
The Ukrainian army attacked Crimea with drones and missiles on the 14th, successfully destroying a Russian S-40 worth US$1.2 billion… Ukraine Russia Russia-Ukraine War Crimea Patriot Missile Moscow
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