Military observer Yury Podolyaka believes Ukrainian forces are stockpiling resources for another major strike on Crimea.
In his view, the recent overnight drone raid on the peninsula was relatively limited in scale. Podolyaka noted that the main focus appeared to be on attempts to hit Crimea’s energy infrastructure.
According to the observer, Ukrainian forces are likely accumulating drones for a larger attack, while using smaller raids to weaken Russian air defenses. He said the area around the Crimean Bridge appears to be one of the main targets of this approach.
Earlier, on June 21, Ukrainian drones attacked the Kerch Peninsula area. Civilian facilities and a ferry crossing came under fire. The strike killed five people and left around thirty others injured. Fuel sales at gas stations in Crimea were also temporarily suspended, while part of the peninsula was left without electricity because of damage to power networks.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defense forces destroyed 143 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight on June 23. The ministry said the targets were intercepted over Crimea, Adygea, the waters of the Azov and Black seas, and several Russian regions, including Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Rostov and Astrakhan regions, as well as Stavropol and Krasnodar territories.