Russian Air Defense Systems intercept cruise missile in Kerch, Crimea
The head of the Republic of Crimea assures that no damage or casualties resulted after shooting down a cruise missile near Kerch.
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Simferopol water reservoir on the Crimean Peninsula, June 19, 2023 (AFP)
Russia's air defense systems successfully intercepted a cruise missile in close proximity to the city of Kerch in Crimea, Sputnik reported citing Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Republic of Crimea.
Aksyonov confirmed via Telegram that the air defense forces in the Kerch area had shot down the cruise missile, with no reported damage or casualties resulting from the incident.
Urging local residents to remain calm, Aksyonov advised the public to rely only on information from verified sources, emphasizing the importance of trust during such events.
Meanwhile, in Donetsk, the air defense system was also activated. However, Mayor Roman Kuraev stated that only minor damages to roofs were reported as a result of the system's operation.
"There is a dispersion of small debris on the territory of the town of Donetsk after the air defense system has worked out ... Thank God, there are no casualties, there are only minor technical damages, to roofs and so on," Kuraev said on Telegram,
The mayor reassured residents that the necessary repairs would be carried out promptly and mentioned his personal inspection of the affected streets.
Read more: Ukraine military intelligence behind Crimea bridge attack: FSB
Earlier today the Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar officially acknowledged Kiev's responsibility for last year's bombing that targeted the Crimean Bridge in October, the Business Insider news website reported.
On Telegram, Maliar said that the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge, was bombed to obstruct Russia's supply lines.
The Ukrainian official said that Saturday marked 273 days since what she called the "first strike" on the bridge, which was carried out "in order to break the logistics of the Russians."
Although Ukrainian officials have previously not claimed responsibility for the bombing that killed four people and was deemed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a terrorist attack, they have hinted at it.
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