In the early hours of May 2, Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia

In the early hours of May 2, Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, faced a substantial drone attack.

According to reports from the Russian Defense Ministry, their air defense systems supposedly intercepted 89 "Ukrainian drones" over occupied Crimea. Local sources have reported numerous explosions across various towns on the peninsula. The Telegram channel "Krymskiy Veter" indicated that loud explosions were audible in Sevastopol, Dzhankoy, Saki, Novofedorovka, and Kacha, where military airfields are situated. Online videos attest to the tumultuous night in Crimea, showing flames in the village of Uglovoye, located near the Kachi airfield. "Krymskiy Veter" remarked that "something is burning following the engagement of RosPPO." Mikhail Razvozhaev, the self-proclaimed "governor" of Sevastopol, confirmed the assault on Crimea, stating that the occupiers were countering a drone incursion. He mentioned that the Russian fleet was deployed to respond to the situation, describing it as a "massive combined attack" on Sevastopol, occurring over the sea near the city of Khersones and in the vicinity of Sevastopol Bay, Kacha, and Balaklava. Additionally, Russian authorities temporarily halted traffic on the Crimean Bridge, which resumed after a pause of about 2.5 hours. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, suggested that the drone strikes were significant. He stated, "The demilitarization of Crimea is crucial for security in the Black Sea. Russia views Crimea as a military stronghold, reminiscent of the Soviet era, which poses a direct threat to maritime operations. Furthermore, it serves as a launch point for assaults on Ukrainian cities. Explosions at military sites in Crimea are fundamentally tied to security concerns." In one of the recorded clips, a local resident claims that UAVs targeted the location of the missile brigade. Reporting by Today war