Russia claims destruction of three maritime drones and five air targets over Crimea

Agents of the Atesh guerrilla movement in Crimea reported that the Russian communication node (military unit 28735) was hit in Alushta as a result of the evening attack. 

According to the Atesh movement, this unit is an important point of communication and control for the Russians in Crimea. It is a former Ukrainian military unit, which is now used by the occupiers.

"It seems that there was significant damage to the equipment and many occupiers were killed. It is likely that the control unit of this center was also destroyed," the guerrillas added. 

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the alleged elimination of three maritime drones and 5 air targets over the Belgorod region and the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"Last night, a number of attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks using American ATACMS tactical missiles and aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in the Russian Federation were stopped," the statement said.

It is noted that Russian air defense forces allegedly destroyed three ATACMS tactical missiles over the territory of occupied Crimea, as well as two drones over the Belgorod region.

In addition, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, three maritime drones headed for Crimea were allegedly destroyed in the Black Sea.

Chronology of events

The explosions were reported on the evening of May 23 by local telegram channels, including Krymskyi Veter.

At 10:14 p.m., explosions were reported from Simferopol to Saky. Locals also heard them in Yalta and Alushta. In the latter city, the sounds of a flying aircraft, probably a UAV, were also reported. Later, a Telegram channel reported a hit to the FSB military unit near Alushta. This information has not yet been confirmed.

At 10:15 p.m., it was reported that a siren sounded in military units in Sevastopol. At 10:27 p.m., two explosions were recorded in the Bakhchysarai district. Local residents also heard explosions in Dzhankoi.

The occupation authorities reported a hit near Alushta. 

According to the so-called head of the occupation authorities of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, "a hit on an empty commercial facility was allegedly recorded near Alushta."

"Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are working at the site. I urge everyone to remain calm and trust only official information," he added.

Aksyonov also informed that "two bystanders were killed as a result of a missile attack by the enemy on the peninsula in Simferopol district." 

Meanwhile, local telegram channels report that ambulances are heading towards the suburb of Alushta. The occupiers' military camp is located there. Krymskyi Veter adds that local medical workers were urgently called to work.

The Telegram channel of the Radio Svoboda project, Krym.Realii, added that subscribers reported three flashes in the area of the Belbek airfield in Sevastopol, as well as one air defense launch from Novofedorivka in the same direction. There were allegedly about eight flashes in total.

• On the night of May 16-17, HUR and SBU strike drones attacked a number of important Russian targets in the temporarily occupied Crimea, Novorossiysk, and Tuapse.