On 20 June, Reuters reported that the pro-Russian regional governor in Crimea had accused Ukrainian forces of attacking and setting fire to an oil drilling platform that has allegedly belonged to Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. It is not known what weapons were used to carry out the attack. Three people were injured and a further seven people are believed to be missing. Ongoing work on two other platforms has been suspended.
Silence from Kiev
This information could not be verified at the time, partly because no details were provided by the Ukrainian side. However, the platforms are said to be only 70 kilometres south-east of Odessa, roughly halfway between Odessa and the western tip of Crimea.
Russian lifeline bridge near Kerch
Russia is now (why only now?) concerned about statements by Ukrainian military officials that they may soon also want to target Russian infrastructure in Crimea - such as the bridge over the Kerch Strait, which is the logistical lifeline par excellence for Crimea, Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet. The vulnerability of this connection is probably also the reason for Russia's unconditional adherence to the land gains in southern Ukraine, which can ensure a second supply line to Sevastopol - land-based, not unassailable, but with a multitude of terrestrial evasion options.
English 
German
0 Kommentare