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Crimea and Sevastopol

Kiev forces carry out over 20 missile, drone attacks on Crimea in 2023 — Russian official

Vladimir Ustinov noted that the Russian Armed Forces’ air defense units have become increasingly effective in repelling such assaults

ROSTOV-ON-DON, December 25. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces have carried out over 20 missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks on the Crimean Peninsula since the beginning of 2023, Russian Plenipotentiary Presidential Representative in the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov said in an interview with TASS.

"Since the [Southern Federal] district is adjacent to the zone of the special military operation, Ukrainian militants’ use of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as of HIMARS rockets and ATACMS missiles provided by the West, still poses a real threat. The issue is particularly pressing for the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. In particular, I would say that Crimea was attacked by UAVs and various missiles more than 20 times in 2023 alone. We also remember the Ukrainian army’s major missile attack on the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol. Although we should note here that the Russian Armed Forces’ air defense units have become increasingly effective in repelling such assaults," Ustinov noted.

He added that, apart from stepping up their sabotage and terrorist activities in Crimea, Ukrainian nationalists have also regularly attempted to sow social and political instability. "Foreign intelligence agencies also seek to increase their subversive activities. We have repeatedly addressed the existing problems at meetings with regional authorities and officials from the district branches of the Emergencies Ministry, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Interior Ministry. We have made the necessary decisions and are now closely monitoring the situation to ensure that they are implemented promptly," the presidential envoy added.

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