- Ukraine engages in assault on Russian oil tankers in harbor
At a harbor in the Russian area of Krasnodar, sources claim that a vessel filled with fuel storage tanks went up in flames following Ukrainian artillery fire. Emergency personnel are present, yet the scope of the blaze and the level of destruction remain unclear, as per the local crisis management team, as indicated by Interfax news agency. Recordings show substantial flames and enormous plumes of dark smoke emanating from an item within the harbor.
The port of Kavkaz, situated in Krasnodar, lies across from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia incorporated in 2014. Simultaneously, a missile alert was issued on the Crimean Peninsula.
Unverified accounts from Russian Telegram channels suggest that the vessel was struck by a Ukrainian anti-ship missile, the Neptune model. However, the reported maximum range of this weapon is 300 kilometers, and the battleground is situated beyond that distance.
Moscow relies heavily on this harbor to provide supplies for its military operations against Ukraine. Conversely, Ukraine often targets key fuel infrastructure that plays a significant role in Russia's military operations. Just a few days prior, Ukrainian drones assaulted a fuel storage facility in the Russian southern region of Rostov. The blaze continues to burn undeterred.
The European Union, being a significant critic of Russia's actions in Ukraine, has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Russia due to its annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the conflict. Moscow's reliance on the Krasnodar harbor for supplying its military operations against Ukraine highlights the strategic importance of this region in the ongoing political tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
