Ukraine flag raised in Russia-annexed Crimea, says Kyiv, as 13 Ukrainians wounded in Independence Day attacks
- Ukraine’s intelligence agency said the ‘state flag flew again in the Ukrainian Crimea’ in a ‘special operation’ and the ‘enemy suffered losses’
- Meanwhile, as Ukraine marked 32 years of independence from Moscow, 13 people were hurt in missile strikes in the cities of Dnipro and Kherson
Ukraine on Thursday said it flew its flag on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula overnight after conducting a “special joint operation” there with its navy as the country celebrates Independence Day.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency said in a statement that its special forces landed on Crimea’s western shore near the towns of Olenivka and Mayak, where it “engaged in combat”.
“As a result, the enemy suffered losses among personnel, enemy equipment was destroyed,” it said, adding that the “state flag flew again in the Ukrainian Crimea”.
Ukraine has launched multiple attacks on the Russian-annexed peninsula since the start of Moscow’s invasion, and refers to the territory as “temporarily occupied” in statements.
On Wednesday, Kyiv said it destroyed a powerful Russian anti-aircraft system in that area, which it said inflicted a “painful blow” on enemy air defences.