Ukraine says drones damaged railway bridge and power facilities in Crimea
Ukraine reported that drone strikes hit a railway bridge, an oil depot at a thermal power plant and other infrastructure in Crimea as part of efforts to disrupt Russian supply lines on the peninsula.
Ukraine's defense ministry said drones struck a railway bridge over the North Crimean Canal near Rozdolne, an oil storage depot at the Kerch thermal power plant, an electrical substation in western Crimea and a liquefied natural gas distribution station in Simferopol. The ministry added that the bridge, a key logistics route for Russian forces, was partially collapsed after the attacks, and that a second strike targeted railway repair equipment at the site.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the operations were intended to "isolate Crimea with drones" and warned that the peninsula could become an island, potentially leading to "unexpected consequences for Russians." Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had been warned that Ukraine aimed to disrupt energy supplies and tourism, and described the drone activity as an attempt to "destabilize" Russian society.
Local energy providers reported power outages in parts of Crimea, attributing them to technical malfunctions and expecting restoration within 24 hours. Crimean authorities cancelled sporting events and halted summer camp registrations through September 1, citing safety concerns.
The Ukrainian defense ministry noted that more than 800,000 enemy targets have been hit by drones since the start of the year, with 95% of the drones being domestically produced. Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Andrii Melnyk said Kyiv remains ready for direct talks with Russia to achieve a "just and lasting peace" based on the U.N. Charter, while emphasizing that recent strikes have altered the war's dynamics.
