Ukraine's special forces launch bold raids to free Crimea – CNN

CNN writes about it. 

The mission was executed by a team of ten soldiers from the Bratstvo Defense Intelligence battalion, who, in cooperation with other Ukrainian units, conducted a night assault on Crimea. They sailed through rough seas on large speed boats before switching to low-profile jet skis as they neared the peninsula. Their objective was twofold: to sabotage Russian military equipment along the shore and send a message of resilience to Ukrainian citizens in the region.

“I was so high on adrenaline,” Muzykant, one of the soldiers, told CNN, explaining that the whole operation felt like a blur. “I only really understood I had been to Crimea after we returned to our base. I realized we had completed a colossal task.”

The operation was fraught with risks, including stormy seas and patrolling Russian warships armed with heavy weaponry. However, the well-prepared soldiers managed to complete their mission without injuries or captures.

“We trained a lot for this mission. Everybody knew their role, what they were supposed to do on the shore,” Muzykant said. “On the way back after the task the Russian warships were chasing us, but we managed to escape.”

These daring raids serve not only as a morale boost for the people in Crimea but also as a distraction for Russian forces. This diversion forces the enemy to reposition their troops and vehicles along the Crimean coast, a crucial aspect of Ukraine's counteroffensive strategy.

Ongoing assaults on Crimea

Ukraine has been intensifying its attacks on Crimea, striking Russian assets, including the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in Sevastopol and the Kerch bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia. Moscow has promised retaliation, but Ukraine continues its strikes on the peninsula.

Resistance groups in occupied Ukraine, such as the Atesh movement in Crimea, play a crucial role. These groups monitor Russian military activities and communicate movements to Ukrainian forces. They operate in secrecy and take extensive precautions to evade Russian authorities, including the Federal Security Service (FSB).

“Our movement and other resistance movements are only getting bigger and stronger,” the partisans said. “The occupiers know this very well. The pro-Ukrainian residents of Crimea are ready for the liberation of the peninsula.”

Ukraine's goal is the eventual liberation of Crimea, and more daring raids are on the horizon. While the road ahead is challenging, Ukrainian forces are committed to this cause.

They believe that the people of Crimea “are waiting for the sign to start the fight against the Russian aggression” and “the very early stages of that fight may already be unfolding.”

• The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate says that an airborne operation was carried out in the temporarily occupied Crimea, during which an attack was made on Russian troops. After completing the mission, the special forces successfully retreated