Russia says massive UkraInian attack foiled in Crimea

July 18, 2023

- Russian Defense Ministry says 28 Ukrainian drones jammed and shot down over night

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia said Tuesday it jammed or shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones foiling a massive attack on Crimea, a territory under Russian occupation since 2014.

"Last night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using 28 unmanned aerial vehicles on objects on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula was stopped," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Seventeen drones were shot down and 11 jammed by Russian defense, the statement added.

At least two people were killed and a child was severely injured in a blast early Monday at the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of being behind the attack.

Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakahrova also blamed the US and UK intelligence agencies, claiming they provided "direct assistance" to Kyiv.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on Tuesday that the authorities managed to partly reverse the effects of the attack and the traffic has resumed on one of the line of the highway.