Ukraine Claims Destroyed Russian Cruise Missiles, Moscow Accuses Kyiv Drone Attacks Injuring Civilians

Illustration of the launch of Russian Kalibr cruise missiles. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense via TASS)

JAKARTA - Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Monday an explosion at Dzhankoi in the north of the Crimean peninsula had destroyed a Russian cruise missile intended for use by Russia's Black Sea fleet.

Meanwhile, an official stationed by Russia on the peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, said the explosion was caused by a drone loaded with shrapnel and explosives, targeting civilian locations. One person is injured.

A statement from the intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said: "An explosion in the town of Dzhankoi in the north of occupied Crimea destroyed the Russian Kalibr-KN cruise missiles as they were being transported by rail," Reuters reported March 21.

Statements on social media said the missiles, which are designed to be launched from surface ships in Russia's Black Sea fleet, have an operational range of more than 2.500 km (1.550 miles) on land and 375 km (233 miles) at sea.

Ihor Ivin, head of the Dzhankoi government installed by Russia, said the town was attacked by drones and a 33-year-old man received shrapnel injuries as a result of the attack.

He was taken to hospital and is expected to survive. Reuters was unable to independently verify either the reports from Ukraine or Russia.

TASS quoted Ivin as saying on Krym-24 TV that a house, a school, and a grocery store were burnt while the power grid was damaged.

Meanwhile, Oleg Kryuchkov, Crimea's chief adviser appointed by Russia, said the drone strikes were aimed at civilian targets.

"All the drones targeted civilian sites. One of them was fired over the Dzhankoi technical school and fell between the teaching area and student residences," he wrote on the Telegram channel.

"There are no military sites nearby. The others were dropped in residential areas. Apart from explosives, each carried shrapnel."

It is known that a Russian military airbase is located near Dzhankoi, with Ukrainian officials having long said the city and the surrounding area have turned into Moscow's largest military base in Crimea.

Ukraine has carried out a number of attacks on targets in Crimea. Last August, missiles destroyed several planes at an air base on the southwestern coast of the peninsula. Ukrainian authorities later claimed responsibility for the attack.