Ukraine admits to attacking oil rig near Crimea, Russia responds

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Russia accused Ukraine of using drones and anti-ship missiles to target a Russian oil rig in the Black Sea off the Crimean peninsula.


Russia's Defense Ministry on June 21 published a report saying that Ukraine earlier this week used Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones and anti-ship missiles to attack three Russian gas rigs Russia in the Black Sea. The attack left three people injured and seven missing.


According to the report, on June 20, the Ukrainian military launched a series of attacks to regain control of Snake Island in the Black Sea. In total, Kiev deployed more than 15 drones, Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles, Uragan artillery systems, M777 howitzers to carry out an amphibious assault. Ukraine's S-300 air defense systems also supported this operation.


However, Russian air defense in Snake Island thwarted Ukraine's plan by destroying 13 drones, 4 missiles and 21 rockets. Kiev was forced to abandon the offensive plan.


"After confirming the failure of the attempt to retake Snake Island, the Kiev authorities continued another risky act of attacking Russian gas production facilities in the northwest of the Black Sea," the Russian military said. .


The rigs of the Crimea-based company Chernomorneftegaz were attacked with anti-ship missiles and Bayraktar TB-2 drones on June 20. A drilling rig caught fire, about 100 workers were evacuated, while 3 people were injured, 7 people were missing. Search and rescue work is still going on.


The Russian military said it had responded to Ukrainian forces that it suspected were involved in the attack on the rig. The targets of the response included the Bayraktar TB-2 drone hangars and the Ukrainian M777 howitzers on Kubansky Island.


Ukraine speaks out


Ukraine has confirmed the attack on the oil rig in the Black Sea. Sergiy Bratchuk, a representative of the Odessa military government , said that in the June 20 attack, Ukraine targeted four towers of a gas rig controlled by the Russian military about 70km from Crimea.


Kiev accuses Moscow of using the rig for military purposes. "On these rigs, Russia has set up a small barracks, storing anti-aircraft, reconnaissance and radar equipment. They have turned into important positions helping Russia to fully control the northwestern part of the Black Sea." Interfax quoted Mr. Bratchuk.


Because of this, they are small barracks, not just gas rigs, which make them a "legitimate military target" of the Ukrainian army, Bratchuk said.


In addition, he said Ukrainian forces had struck Russian-controlled Snake Island in the Black Sea, causing Moscow "heavy damage".


On the same day, the Ukrainian military said that it had carried out a "purposeful" air strike, using various forces to attack Snake Island. "The operation is continuing, so it is required to keep the information confidential until the end," the Ukrainian military said, without providing further details about the operation against Snake Island. Earlier, Russia claimed to have repelled Ukrainian attacks on the island.


Snake Island is about 48 km from the southernmost tip of Ukraine and about 300 km from the Crimean peninsula. The island is about 18 hectares wide, described as having a strategic location on the Black Sea. Russia controlled the island from the very beginning of its military operation in Ukraine at the end of February. This area has become a hotbed of conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces since May when the Ukrainian army started counterattacks. .

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