Air Defense Systems Activated Near Kerch Bridge

Air defense systems activated near Crimean bridge

RT

Air defense systems have been activated in the city of Kerch, in the vicinity of the Crimean Bridge, an adviser to Crimea’s governor said on Thursday evening. Videos circulating on social media showed what looks like a missile piercing the night sky, and sounds of explosions.

Oleg Krychkov posted a short message on his Telegram channel, saying that according to preliminary information, “Air defense systems have been activated in Kerch. No danger for the city and the bridge.”

There was a sound similar to that of thunder, with car alarms going off as a result, Russia’s TASS news agency reported citing the Kerch city council.

Social media users have been sharing videos which purportedly depict the incident. The footage features a bright object moving across the night sky that looks like a missile, with some videos also capturing the sound of one or several explosions.

The operator of the Crimean bridge, which links the peninsula with the Russian mainland, told journalists that there have been no traffic disruptions along the transport artery.

Vladimir Rogov, member of the Russian military-civilian administration in Ukraine’s Zaporozhye Region, said on his Telegram channel that “according to preliminary data, a Ukrainian drone was shot down far away from the Crimean bridge.” He added that no casualties or material damage have been reported.

Thursday evening’s activity comes amid a series of incidents in Crimea recently.

On Tuesday, a temporary ammunition depot in northern Crimea was targeted in what the Russian Defense Ministry called an act of sabotage.

Ammunition stored at the site exploded, causing damage to power lines, a power station, a railroad and several residential houses.

Ammunition depot on fire in Russian region bordering Ukraine

RT

An ammunition depot caught fire on Thursday night near the village of Timonovo, governor of in Russia's Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov has confirmed. There are no casualties, he said. The area is just across the border with Ukraine.

"An ammunition depot caught fire near the village of Timonovo, Valuysky urban district. According to the latest reports, there were no casualties, no injuries. The head of the district is taking the residents of the villages of Timonovo and Soloti to a safe distance," Gladkov said on his Telegram channel. 

Emergency services are on the scene and the cause of the fire is under investigation, he added.

Since the start of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, Kiev’s forces have carried out numerous strikes on settlements and border checkpoints in Russia’s regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk.

The attacks, which mainly involved drones and mortars, have hit both infrastructure and residential areas, resulting in destruction, injuries, and several civilian deaths.