According to the Russian Defense Ministry, at about 6:00 AM Moscow time on December 5, 35 Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down over Crimea by Russian air defense, as reported by The Kyiv Independent.
The Defense Ministry stated that 13 drones were intercepted over the waters of the Azov Sea, without specifying where the remaining drones might have been brought down. Earlier unconfirmed reports suggest that some of the drones could have been intercepted near the cities of Kerch and Feodosia.
In the early hours of the night, Russian officials announced the temporary closure of the Crimea Bridge and urged those on the bridge to “remain calm and follow instructions”. It remains unclear whether the alleged attacks have resulted in any injuries or structural damage.
The Crimea Bridge, which connects the occupied peninsula with the Russian mainland, had previously been targeted by attacks from Ukraine.
In July, Ukrainian forces attacked the Crimea Bridge with sea drones, triggering an explosion that damaged the bridge. Previously, in October 2022, the bridge was the target of another attack when a truck loaded with explosives detonated on the bridge near a fuel tanker, triggering a chain reaction.
Image: Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, Vladimir Putin in Patriot Park (2018-09-19) 02.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons (Image size changed)
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