Ukraine and Russia Engage in Escalating Conflict as Drone Strike Sparks Explosion in Crimea

On Saturday, a Ukrainian drone hit an ammunition depot in central Crimea, sparking an explosion. This incident follows a predawn strike on a key bridge linking the peninsula to Russia, which prompted Moscow to exit a landmark grain export deal and launch missiles and drones against Ukraine’s seaports.

On Sunday, Russia struck the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa again, according to local officials. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of the annexed territory, said in a Telegram post that there were no immediate reports of casualties but that authorities were evacuating civilians within a five-kilometer radius of the blast site.

The Ukrainian military appeared to confirm it had launched the drone strike, claiming through its press service that it had destroyed an oil depot and Russian arms warehouses in the Krasnohvardiiske area.

The recent attacks have damaged critical port infrastructure in southern Ukraine, raising tensions between the two countries. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of violating international law and called for an end to the attacks. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident.