Review and Database of Ukrainian Attacks on the Occupied Crimea, Russian Ships and Facilities on the Black Sea Coast in January-May 2024

The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies

The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews, based on the results of its own monitoring, presents a database of attacks by Ukrainian drones and missiles on the territory of occupied Crimea, Russian ships in the Black Sea and objects on the Black Sea coast in January-May 2024.*

*Note that:
1) the actual number may be much higher;
2) the reliability of Russian data on the attack results is always deliberately downplayed.
Abbreviations: UAV — unmanned aerial vehicle, USV – unmanned surface vehicle, MORF – Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

In January-May 2024, i.e. over 121 days, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out at least 64 attacks on targets in the Crimean Peninsula and the Russian Black Sea Fleet, or 1 every 3 days, including:

Among those:

• in Sevastopol — at least 22 attacks, or 22% of the total
• on Russian Navy ships in the Black and Azov Seas - at least 9 attacks, or 14%
• in Yevpatoria, Saky, Chornomorsk and Rozdolne districts (Western Crimea) — at least 14 attacks, or 22%
• in Dzhankoi district — at least 7 attacks, or 11%
• in Feodosia region — at least 2 attacks, or 3%
• on the Black Sea coast of the Russian Federation — at least 11 attacks, or 17%.

*Note: in May, three effective attacks against Russian Navy ships in the Black Sea were launched, resulting in the destruction or significant damage to 7 ships. Destroyed: patrol boat Mangust, small missile ship Tsiklon and two transport and amphibious boats of the KS-701 Tuna type. Damaged: two railroad ferries of the Kerch ferry crossing — Conro Trader and Avangard — and pilot boat Mechta.

Number of attacks by month in 2024: January — 12, February — 14, March — 11, April — 10 and May — 17.

* * *

Attacks by Ukrainian drones and missiles on the territory of occupied Crimea, Russian ships and Black Sea coastal objects in January-May 2024 (monitoring by the BSISS/BSN Monitoring Group):

January 2024

1. 02.01.2024 - likely, a missile strike on the Belbek airfield, Sevastopol (to be verified). According to the Fruktove and Verkhniosadove villages residents in the Belbek airfield area, around midnight, several powerful explosions occurred, accompanied by flashes and fire at the airfield. In the afternoon, the Sevastopol occupation authorities reported «downing a missile over the Black Sea.»

2. 04.01.2024 — a combined missile and drone strike on Novofedorivka, Chervona Hirka area, Saky district, Yevpatoria. On 04.01.2024, the siting of missiles and a series of explosions in the western areas of the TOT of the AR of Crimea were reported by local residents. The missiles allegedly hit an air defense unit near the village of Uyutnoe, Saky district. After 22.00, there were additional reports on UAV attacks by residents of Saki, Yevpatoria, Dzhankoy, Novofedorivka and Vilino. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have officially confirmed the destruction of ammunition depots near the villages of Pervomaiske and Grishino, and air defense positions at the Saki airfield.

3. 04.01.2024 - a Storm Shadow/SCALP missile strike on Sevastopol. As a result, the command post of the 31st Air Defense Division of the Southern Military District in Sevastopol in Yukharina Balka has been destroyed.
   According to available information, the missile(s) hit the entrance to the buried command center, collapsing the underground tunnels, and likely causing the structure to be unusable. The strike killed several dozen Russian soldiers, including officers (to be verified). The death of Colonel Vadim Ismagilov, commander of the 3rd Radio Regiment of the 4th Army of the VKS and Air Defense of the Russian Armed Forces, was confirmed, with burial taking place on January 11, 2024 in Chelyabinsk, Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry reported the loss of 23 servicemen.

4. 04.01.2024 - An attack by an unidentified UAV in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai, RF, (information to be verified).
   Late in the evening, local residents reported the sounds of Russian air defense and the fall of debris near house # 5 on Boris Pupko Street, near the Novorossiysk Bay. MORF reported the downing of an unidentified UAV over the Krasnodar region.

5. 05.01.2024 - A combined missile and drone strike at Black Sea waters, Sevastopol (information to be verified). MORF reported that at about 12.30, a Neptune and 5 unspecified type UAVs were destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

6. 06.01.2024 - A missile strike with the Neptune surface-to-air missile system — Black Sea, Yevpatoria and Novofedorivka village, Yevpatoria district, TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. At night, local residents reported a series of explosions and air defense activity in the Yevpatoria area and Novofedorivka. According to official sources in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Ukrainian Air Force hit the command center of the 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment at the Saki airfield in Novofedorivka. The Russian Defense Ministry reported repelling two missile attacks totaling up to 16 missiles. 

7. 14.01.2024 - The destruction of an A-50 airborne surveillance aircraft, and damage to an Il-22 repeater aircraft, likely with a Patriot air defense system — the airspace of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions — near Strilkove and over the Sea of Azov, adjacent Kyrylivka, respectively. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the aircraft destruction.

8. 21.01.2024 - Attempted missile attack (to be verified). on the Krasnohvardiyskiy district, Sevastopol, TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. According to local residents, around noon, air defense activity was recorded in Krasnogvardeyskiy and Saky districts — up to 11 launches and explosions in total. MORF reported the downing of 3 unspecified type missiles over the Black Sea and of at least one object near Sevastopol. 

9. 24.01.2024 - A UAV attack — Black Sea, Tuapse, Krasnodar Territory, Russia. According to the available data, around midnight, up to 3 UAVs, likely of the Beaver type, were spotted near the Tuapse, several of which hit a local oil refinery, causing a fire on an about 200 square meters area. For reference: The Tuapse Refinery is the only refinery located on the Black Sea coast, one of the ten largest in Russia and processes up to 12 million tons of raw materials annually. It operates primarily for export and is part of Rosneft.

10. 30.01.2024 - A combined missile and drone strike on Razdolnensky district, TOT AR of Crimea, that resulted in the destruction of a radar station covering the surface situation for the Russian Armed Forces.

11. 30.01.2024 - A UAV attack on the Belbek airfield, Sevastopol. On January 30, local residents reported air defense activity and the sound of explosions in the Belbek airfield area. In turn, MORF reported the destruction of 11 unidentified UAVs.

12. 31.01.2024 - A missile — Storm Shadow type — attack on Hvardiyske village, Sevastopol, TOT AR Crimea. Two missiles reportedly hit the control center, with one missile hitting the communication center of the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 80159, Belbek airfield). According to Russian sources, three aircraft — two Su-27s and one Su-30 — and 10-12 servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces were destroyed at the Belbek airfield (to be verified). Near Hvardiyske, the missiles hit a special forces unit training camp, reportedly killing 9 soldiers, wounding up to 10, and destroying several pieces of special equipment (to be verified).

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February 2024

1. 01.02.2024 - A USV attack — Lake Donuzlav, Black Sea resulting in missile boat of the 1241.1 Molniya type Ivanovets destroyed. According to a report released by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Russian ship was attacked by six MAGURA V5 maritime drones. 

2. 05.02.2024 - (date to be verified). Special operation Citadel by the 73rd MD SPBG Group of the Special Forces of Ukraine — northwestern part of the Black Sea. The goal was to destroy military equipment set up at one of the Ukrainian drilling platforms seized by the Russians. According to available data, the operation resulted in the damage/destruction of the platform equipment that had increased the range and radius of the Iran-made reconnaissance UAVs such as Mohajer-6 and Shahed 131/136 strike UAVs, as well as the Neva-B surface surveillance radar station, used by the Russians to monitor the situation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. 

3. 09.02.2024 - A UAV attack on the Ilya and Afipsk refineries, Black Sea waters, the Krasnodar Krai (Russia). The strike damaged the primary oil refining unit at the Ilya refinery. There was also an explosion at the Afipsk refinery that didn’t significantly affect production.

4. 09.02.2024 - A USV attack — southwestern part of the Black Sea. The MORF reported that at about 20.30 Moscow time, a patrol boat of the Russian Black Sea Fleet detected and destroyed a Ukrainian Navy USV headed towards Crimea. There has been no confirmation from the Ukrainian side. 

5. 11.02.2024 - A likely UAV attack — Chornomorsky district, TOT AR Crimea. At about 17:00, local residents of Vnukovo and Krasnaya Polyana reported a powerful explosion and subsequent fire. The area of the explosion was patrolled by a Russian military helicopter (information to be further clarified).

6. 13.02.2024 - A fire at the Saki airfield (Novofedorivka village), TOT Crimea. Local residents reported a massive fire at the Saki airfield near the parking lot of Russian Armed Forces military equipment, a radar site, and a command post that had already been subjected to a missile attack on January 06, 2024. Satellite images released on February 19, 2024 showed traces of the fire over an area of up to 3 hectares.

7. 14.02.2024 - A USV attack — Black Sea off the Alupka coast. As a result, large amphibious assault ship (LAS) project 775 Tsezar Kunikov destroyed. The amphibious assault ship project 775 Caesar Kunikov of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was attacked by five Magura V5 USVs, received critical damage on the port side and sank after a powerful explosion 4 km off the Alupka shore. According to available data, the Caesar Kunikov was carrying weapons and ammunition.

8. 14.02.2024 - A UAV attack — airspace over the Black Sea. The MORF reported the destruction of six Ukrainian UAVs over the Black Sea at night (to be verified).

9. 16.02.2024 - A UAV attack — airspace over the Black Sea. The MORF reported the destruction of four Ukrainian UAVs over the Black Sea at night (to be verified).

10. 23.02.2024 - A fire of unknown origin near a former airfield — Kerch Peninsula, TOT AR of Crimea. At about 3 a.m., local residents reported a fire near the villages of Chistopillya and Bagerovo, the latter — a former military airfield whose runway has been dismantled and isn’t used for the intended purpose. No additional information available.

11. 23.02.2024 - An A-50U airborne surveillance aircraft destroyed over the eastern part of the Sea of Azov. At about 19.00, an A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov. That was the second long-range radar aircraft destroyed over the Sea of Azov since the beginning of the year, with the first A-50 destroyed on January 14, 2024.

12. 25 .02.2024 - A likely UAV attack — northern and western districts, Sevastopol, TOT AR of Crimea. According to the available data, in the morning, a powerful fire recorded in the Saki district, with its center located between the villages of Soldatske, Shalashi and Zimino. The object and causes of the fire remain unknown. After 5 p.m., the attack was replicated in different parts of Crimea. A powerful explosion occurred in Dzhankoy, two explosions — in the Nyzhnyohirsky district, a series of explosions — in the Yevpatoria and Saksky districts (Suvorovskoye and Lymanoye villages); air defense systems were detected operating from Kirovsky airfield and near Sevastopol (Balaklava), with tactical aircraft involved and the Kerch bridge simultaneously closed. The MORF reported 4 Ukrainian UAVs and 2 cruise missiles destroyed over the Black Sea at night. The Ukrainian side did not confirm.

13. 29.02.2024 - A likely UAV attack — Simferopol district, TOT Crimea. Local residents of the Simferopol and Krasnogvardeisky districts reported a powerful explosion and the operation of air defense systems at 15.41 from the Maryino village area near Simferopol. The MORF reported the downing of a Ukrainian airplane-type UAV over Crimea at 15.45 Moscow time.

14. 29.02.2024 - A fire on a boat of the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service — Sea of Azov. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine released a radio interception about a fire on a Russian FSB Coast Guard boat in the Sea of Azov. According to available data, the superstructure and the wheelhouse were damaged, while five crew members injured. The cause of the fire and further details are unknown.

March 2024

1. 01.03.2024. A missile attack on the military airfield in the village of Hvardiyske, TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC). Local residents reported air defense systems operation in Yevpatoria and Saky districts. According to the available data, at around 16:00, two missiles — probably of the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG type — hit and damaged the airfield infrastructure, injuring Russian servicemen. The airfield in Hvardiyske is home to tactical aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces actively used to launch strikes against the southern regions of Ukraine. Previously, the airbase had been attacked in August 2022 and March and August 2023.

2. 01.03.2024. Russian air defense system operation in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol. According to available data, during the day, residents of Sevastopol heard about five explosions, including in the city centre. An air raid alarm was announced in Sevastopol, the Sevastopol Bay masked by aerosol masking and power supply to certain city areas cut off. At the same time, to counter possible missile attack, in the area of the so-called Crimean Bridge, traffic was stopped and aerosol camouflage used. Crimean occupation authorities reported shooting down 10 air targets.

3. 03.03.2024. A massive UAV attack on Feodosia, TOT ARC. According to available data, at around 1:00, several UAVs attacked the Feodosia oil depot, resulting in several explosions and a fire extinguished only after 2 hours. The strike damaged an oil product tank and the main pipeline. The UAV debris or most likely, an air defense missile, made a crater about 5 m in diameter and 4 m deep at the 89th km of Tavrida highway near Feodosia, leading to lane closure for at least a day. Local residents reported a fire near the Feodosia embankment. To counter a possible missile attack, measures were also taken in the area of the so-called Crimean Bridge. MORF reported all 38 drones shot down over Crimea. The attack on the Feodosia oil depot was the third in six months after the November and December 2023 strikes.

4. 05.03.2024. A multiple Magura V5-type USV attack on Cape Takil, the Kerch Strait area, TOT ARC. Between midnight and morning, at least five unspecified powerful explosions were heard in the Kerch area. Later, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR) reported the destruction of the project 22160 patrol ship Serhiy Kotov with the Magura V5-type USV. According to information that requires further clarification, an unknown type helicopter deployed on the ship at the time was also destroyed. The ship costing about $65 million with a regular crew of up to 80 had been launched in 2021, commissioned to the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in July 2022 and took an active part in the seizure of Mariupol. During the attack, the Crimean Bridge was closed to trains, cars and ships for at least nine hours — from 11pm on March 4 until the following morning.

5. 11.03.2024. Karantynnyi Island area (Dnipro River), Kherson region. An air strike by the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) destroyed the Russian-flagged vessel Mechanic Pogodin (IMO: 9598397, owned by VEB Leasing, St. Petersburg, Russia). According to available information, the Russians used the vessel as an observation post and a UAV control/launch point. The vessel (tanker) was arrested by Ukraine in 2018 as a sanctions regime violator. Until summer 2023, it was stationed in the Kherson seaport, but after on June 6, 2023, the Russians blew up Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, the tanker washed up on the shore of Karantynnyi Island, where it was destroyed.

6. 18.03.2024. A UAV attack on Sevastopol. Local residents reported two powerful explosions in the evening. To counter possible missile attack, traffic was stopped and aerosol camouflage used in the Crimean Bridge area. MORF reported the destruction of a Ukrainian UAV over Crimea.

7. 19.03.2024. A UAV attack near Armyansk, TOT ARC. As a result of the afternoon drone attack, an S-400 Triumph air defense system launcher was damaged near Armyansk, killing three and wounding two Russian soldiers.

8. 21.03.2024. A UAV attack on TOT ARC. MORF reported that around 15:00, air defense forces had destroyed three Ukrainian UAVs over Crimea. The information needs to be confirmed.

9. 23.03.2024. A massive missile strike on the BSF main special communications center and airbase in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol. In the evening of March 23, a missile attack, likely by Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles, was launched against Russian military facilities in Sevastopol, including the command, control and communications points. Several powerful explosions occurred in the central part of the city itself, including on the territory of the former headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy at 1 Solovyova Street where the BSF Information and Computer Communications Center is located, in the Kozacha Bay and Cape Fiolent area. There is also evidence of an unidentified explosion in the Nizhnegorsk district of the ARC. According to information that needs to be verified, tactical aircraft at the Belbek airfield in Sevastopol were also damaged, and the permanent duty station of the BSF 810th Separate Marine Brigade hit. The occupation authorities of Crimea reported 10 downed missiles.

10. 24.03.2024. Massive missile attack on the BSF ships and military infrastructure in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. According to available information that requires further verification, two Russian project 775 large amphibious assault ships, Yamal and Azov, stationed at the 13th BSF Shipyard in Sevastopol, were hit. The medium-sized project 18280 reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs and Ukrainian project 775 large amphibious assault ship Konstantin Olshansky that the Russians were trying to restore, were also likely damaged.

11. 24.03.2024. A UAV strike on Hvardiyske village, Simferopol district, TOT ARC. Around 5:00, four explosions occurred in Simferopol region, with three more in the city suburbs. Local residents reported that twenty minutes later, a smoke column was seen in the Hvardiyske village area. According to available information, three oil tanks and a military warehouse caught fire as a result of a UAV hitting the oil depot. The local occupation authorities were forced to organize the evacuation of civilians.

April 2024

1. 02.04.2024. Power substation explosion (likely, sabotage) in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol. According to the Ukrainian media, citing sources in GUR, a Sevastopolenergo power substation was blown up.

2. 06.04.2024. Pipeline explosion in Port of Azov, Rostov region, Russia. On the night of April 6, 2024, a town of Azov pipeline used to pump petro products from a local oil depot to tankers in the Azov Sea Port was blown up. As a result, tanker loading has been suspended for an indefinite period. GUR confirmed the involvement of Ukrainian forces.

3. 09.04.2024. Likely missile attack in Sevastopol. After midnight, at least two explosions were heard in Sevastopol. MORF reported that Russian air defense destroyed a Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile over the Black Sea off the coast of the Crimean peninsula.

4. 15.04.2024. UAV attack on Sevastopol. MORF reported that around 06.30 it destroyed 5 Ukrainian UAVs of an undetermined type over the Black Sea. In the morning, the Crimean bridge was closed and aerosol camouflage used.

5. 17.04.2024. Airfield attack, likely the first use of the ATACMS-type missiles on Dzhankoi. On the morning of April 17, the Ukrainian military struck the Russian military airfield in Dzhankoi, the permanent duty station of the 39th Helicopter Regiment of the 27th Mixed Aviation Division of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District, three aviation squadrons, and S-300/S-400 launchers. Several loud explosions were heard around 4:00 with the first at about 3:40, followed by the fire detonation of ammunition. The VIIRS/Suomi NPP satellite recorded six ignition centers of powerful fires. The road from Dzhankoi to the nearby Pobedne village was temporarily closed. According to GUR: 3 S-400 launchers, 2 S-300 launchers, 1 S-400 radar and S-300/400 BC warehouse were destroyed or critically damaged.

6. 19.04.2024. Missile attack on Simferopol district and Sevastopol, TOT Crimea. Around 5:00, local sources in Crimea reported 5 powerful explosions heard in Miskhor, Simferopol district, with the loudest — in Sevastopol and Balaklava. Around that time, 3-4 explosions were also heard in Krasnohvardiysky district. MORF reported that Russian air defense destroyed three ATACMS over the Black Sea. No further information available.

7. 21.04.2024. Missile attack on Sevastopol. In the morning, a likely Neptune anti-ship missile hit the BSF rescue catamaran ship Kommuna in Sevastopol Bay, wounding two members of the BSF Auxiliary. For reference: Commissioned in 1915, Kommuna is not only the oldest ship of the Russian Navy, but the oldest in the world remaining in service and performing combat missions. A Russian Empire vessel, it is still an important combat unit of the BSF.

8. 27.04.2024. UAV attack on oil infrastructure and airfield, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. At night, UAVs attacked several military infrastructure facilities in the Krasnodar Krai, Russia, including the Ilsky Oil Refinery, Kushchyovsky Oil Refinery, and other. Explosions also occurred in the suburbs of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, causing fire. A distillation column at the Slavyansk-EKO refinery was damaged. The local authorities claimed more than 10 drones suppressed. It is also reported that the Kushchyovskaya military air base near the namesake village of Kuban region located 200 km from the front line caught fire. The airfield is the deployment base of Russian Su-34 and Su-35 fighters used in daily attack missions on Ukrainian defense positions, including with the intensive use of glide bombs.

9. 28.04.2024. A missile — likely, ATACMS — attack on Dzhankoi district, TOT ARC. Just after midnight, a powerful explosion occurred in Dzhankoi and Dzhankoi district of the occupied peninsula. Explosions were also reported near the city of Yevpatoria. Representatives of the occupation authorities reported a "missile threat" in Crimea.

10. 30.04.2024. Combined missiles-UAV attack on 3 air defense facilities in the northwestern region of Crimea and an air base. At night, local residents reported explosions in Yevpatoria, Dzhankoi, Simferopol, Hvardiysk and Krasnoperekopsk districts. According to available data, Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a military unit of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in the village of Donske, Simferopol district. As a result, a fire broke out, wounding the occupiers. Also, there was a missile strike on military facilities of the 31st Air Defense Division in the Chornomorsk and Saky districts. In addition, there are reports of a hit on military air base in the Dzhankoi district, where a helicopter regiment of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District is deployed, resulting in 5 servicemen wounded.

May 2024

1. 02.05.2024. UAV attack on Afipsky Oil Refinery, Afipsky, Krasnodar Krai, RF. According to available information, around 3.10 a.m. UAVs of unknown type attacked Afipsky Oil Refinery. Local residents reported "the characteristic sound of UAV engines" followed by three powerful explosions. Meanwhile, Russian official sources reported the destruction of all air targets. That was the second attack on the Afipsky Oil Refinery since the beginning of the year, after the first one on February 9, 2024.

2. 04.05.2024. Possible Iskander missile hit, Susanine, Yevpatoria district, TOT Crimea. According to the NASA fire maps, there were fire pockets in the area of the Iskander launch positions near the village of Susanine, northeast of Yevpatoria. No additional information is available, but the day before, the Russians reported an attack on Crimea with four ATACMS missiles that had been destroyed in the area.

3. 06.05.2024. USV attack, Black Sea waters, west cost TOT Crimea. On the night of May 6, in the area of Vuzka Bay (Chornomorske settlement) a Magura V5 marine drone hit a high-speed patrol boat Mangust at the point of basing. Later, the DIU confirmed a Mangust speedboat (project 12150) destruction in Crimea. Data on the USVs that took part in the attack is available. For reference: Mangust 12150 speedboats are used as multi-purpose fast vehicles for patrolling the waters, fighting saboteurs, and search and rescue operations, and have been manufactured since 2000. The boat is up to 20 meters long and 5 meters wide. The maximum speed is up to 50 knots. The estimated cost of the destroyed Mangust is about $3 million.

4. 09.05.2024. UAV attack on two oil refineries, Yurivka, Krasnodar Krai, RF. On the night of May 9, in the village of Yurivka near Anapa, Ukrainian drones simultaneously attacked two oil depots. One UAV attacked a Lukoil LLC oil depot, causing damage to an oil tank and a fuel leak, but no fire. Other seven drones attacked a neighboring Temp LLC oil depot that specializes in fuel oil storage, damaging three fuel oil tanks and causing a fire. Contrary to the eyewitnesses accounts shared on social media, the Russian authorities claimed that only six UAVs attacked the site. According to the Russian official version, six drones had been jammed or shot down on approach, with the wreckage falling on the territory of the oil depot, causing fire and damage to several tanks. The scale of the fire is evidenced by the fact that 62 people and 20 pieces of equipment, including 25 people and 7 pieces of equipment from the Russian Emergencies Ministry, were involved in putting it off. The process lasted from 3 to 11 a.m. The attacked oil depots are transshipment facilities for supplying fuel to Russian troops in Crimea.

5. 13.05.2024. Combined UAV/missile attack on Russian air-defense systems, Big Yalta area, TOT Crimea. According to available information, around 6 a.m., the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked a unit of the 3rd Radio Regiment (Sevastopol, military unit 85683) on Mount Ai-Petri (Big Yalta area) with UAVs and Storm Shadow missiles. According to the available information, the attack damaged equipment used to monitor airspace around the occupied Crimea, and killed two servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces, including the commander of the 85683 military unit, Alexander Kulakov. Meanwhile, the MORF reported that at night, seven UAVs and four Storm Shadow missiles had been destroyed over Crimea

6. 15.05.2024. ATACMS-type missile attack on Belbek airfield, Sevastopol. At about 1.55 a.m., several explosions were heard near the Belbek airfield (Sevastopol) used by the occupiers as a tactical aircraft base. The ATACMS missiles strikes on the airfield lasted until 2.35 a.m.. The explosions were heard in Yevpatoria and in the Bakhchisaray district. The Russian occupation authorities in Sevastopol reported that the debris of the downed missiles fell in the residential area. At the same time, Ukrainian monitoring channels recorded three fires at the Belbek airfield near the runway and aircraft parking areas, as well as near the fuel and lubricant depot. According to the available information, the missiles destroyed/damaged: 1 Mig-31BM; up to 3 Su-27/30; S-300 and S-400 air defense systems and a radar station (not specified). Exact data on the total occupation personnel casualties is unavailable, but at least two dead and 13 wounded have been confirmed. 15-16.05.2024. ATACMS-type missile attack on Belbek and Hvardiiske airfields, Sevastopol (to be verified). At 11 p.m. on May 15, the second that day missile attack on Russian military airfields in occupied Crimea began. Six explosions near the Belbek airport (Sevastopol), the base of the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 4th Guards Air Defense Army, have been reported. Residents of the Hvardiiske village, the home of another military airfield, also reported powerful explosions. During the attack, the Kerch Bridge was closed and an air raid siren turned on in Sevastopol. As a result of the attack, airfield infrastructure, fuel and ammunition depots, and several tactical aircraft were damaged/destroyed. Meanwhile, the MORF reported only that on May 15-16, air defense systems destroyed 5 ATACMS tactical missiles and up to 6 UAVs. 

7. 16.05.2024. Massive USV attack on TOT Crimea and Sevastopol. During the day, the MORF twice reported the destruction of up to 25 USVs in the Black Sea near Crimea. No additional information is available.

8. 17.05.2024. UAV oil refinery and USV port attacks in Novorossiysk, and USV attack on Tuapse oil refinery, RF. On the night of May 17, Ukrainian drones attacked the port and oil depot in Novorossiysk, as well as the Tuapse refinery. Novorossiysk: The Novorossiysk Fuel Oil Terminal and the Importpischeprom terminal were damaged in the night attack after the drones hit two fuel tanks. The drones also hit the Gazprom oil depot in the village of Kyrylivka and the Grushova Balka oil depot of Transneft. In Novorossiysk, local residents reported at least three dozen UAVs and over 30 explosions heard from 3 to 7 a.m. Local Krasnodar Krai authorities claimed that Russian air defense had suppressed more than 10 drones, with the debris causing small fires. At the same time, USVs attacked the port of Novorossiysk, where for security reasons, Russians had redeployed warships from Crimea. The port was temporarily de-energized with smoke observed in the area. There were also reports of the destruction of a port overpass. Public transport in Novorossiysk was shut down for the day, while residents were advised not to leave their homes. Tuapse: Around 7 a.m., the Tuapse oil refinery was attacked. Local residents reported 10 drones. At least two drones hit the refinery, causing a large-scale fire. There were also reports of internet and mobile connection problems in the city. In January of this year, the Rosneft-owned refinery was already attacked by drones, when the primary oil processing unit, namely the vacuum and atmospheric columns, was damaged. According to reports, at the end of April, the plant completed repairs and resumed operations. But apparently not for long. According to MORF, during a night and morning attacks, 44 UAVs were shot down in the Kuban region.

9. 17.05.2024. UAV attack on the Sevastopol power substation and Balaklava CHP plant (to be verified). UAV attack on TOT Sevastopol. The largest attack of the war so far, with up to 102 UAVs involved, according to some estimates. From 2 to 7 a.m., a series of explosions occurred in the occupied Sevastopol and Balaklava, both as a result of drone strikes and Russian air defense response. The UAV hit of the 330 kV Sevastopol power substation resulted in an emergency power outage in Sevastopol and Balaklava that lasted almost a day. The Sevastopol occupation authorities reported a "technological violation at the Kazachya Bay substation". The monitoring channels suggested that the likely main target of the attack could be the Balaklava TPP. On the same night, Sevastopol was attacked by USVs. Locals reported explosions in the Kazachya Bay area, the base of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the BSF, as well as in the Striletska Bay area, the base of the BSF ships. Meanwhile, the MORF reported the destruction of 51 UAVs and up to 6 USV over Crimea.

10. 19.05.2024. ATACMS missile attack on TOT Sevastopol. A night attack on Sevastopol by two (according to other sources — three) ATACMS missiles. As a result of a direct hit, the project 22800 Karakurt small missile ship Tsiklon docking near a Inzhenerna Bay berth, was sunk. The Pantsir-M air defense system stationed at the ship’s stern was most likely, also destroyed. A photo obtained by the Conflict Intelligence Team shows the mast of the ship sticking out of the water, with the rescue vessel Epron, designed for underwater technical works, operating at the site of the ship’s previous location. Furthermore, satellite images published subsequently, show the destruction of the Inzhenerna Bay pier where the ship had been docking. The Russian Navy did not report the loss of the ship. The number of casualties of the standard crew of 39 on board is also unknown. The BSF received the ship only in the summer of 2023. At the same time, the MORF reported that during the night, Russian air defense systems had destroyed 9 ATACMS tactical missiles and one UAV over Crimea.

11. 19.05.2024. UAV attack on an oil refinery, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Russia. During the night, drones attacked an oil refinery in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Russia. As a result, the refinery has suspended operations with no information on the resumption. Six drones that had caused fire, were found on the plant’s territory. The hits and some of the damage were confirmed by the refinery owner, Slavyansk ECO. That was the third attack on the refinery since the start of the year, with the previous ones taking place on March 17 and April 27. The April attack damaged a separation unit forcing the refinery to partially suspend operation.

12. 23-24.05.2024. ATACMS missile attack on Alushta and Belbek and Hvardiyske airfields, TOT Crimea (TBC). On the evening of May 23, Ukrainian defense forces struck Crimean military facilities, with explosions heard in almost all parts of the peninsula — from Simferopol to Saki, Dzhankoi, Armyansk, Perevalne, Yalta, Alushta and Sevastopol. At least 4 ballistic missiles of the MGM-140 ATACMS type hit the communication center of the Russian Army's radar and air defense forces in the village of Semidvorye near Alushta (the Long-Range Space Communications Center) involved in the management of the GLONASS satellite system. The center is also a home of the powerful radio telescope built in the 1960s by the OKB MEI (Special Design Bureau of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute), that has been restored and is used by Russia for space reconnaissance. The Russian air defense activity in Saki, Orlovka, Kacha and Bilohorsk, as well as two powerful explosions in the Bakhchisaray district have been confirmed. There were also reports of explosions and a fire in Hvardiiske, at the Russian air base location. A hit near Perevalne, the deployment base of the BSF 126th Coastal Defense Brigade was also reported. Around midnight, three flares were reported in the Belbek airfield area near Sevastopol, as well as Russian air defense activity around Novofedorivka. The MORF reported the downing of three missiles over Crimea and destruction of up to 3 USVs in the Black Sea.

13. 30.05.2024. ATACMS missile attack on Kerch and USV attack on the northwestern coast of Crimea. During the night, ATACMS missiles attacked the Kerch ferry crossing — an important element of the Russian military logistics. In addition, there was a USV attack on the northwestern coast of Crimea. As a result, at least five maritime targets have been hit: two railroad ferries — Conro Trader and Avangard — and the Mechta pilot boat (actively used by the occupiers to transport military cargo from the Azov Sea to the Black Sea) have been damaged in the Kerch port, while two KS-701 Tuna-type transport amphibious boats in the Vuzka Bay (Chornomorske) — destroyed. Subsequently, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the Kerch ferry crossing had been attacked by ATACMS missiles. For reference: The Kerch ferry crossing connects the Port of Crimea on the Crimean peninsula and Port Kavkaz in the Krasnodar Krai (RF). Seven ferries operate on the line: two railroad — Avangard and Conro Trader, three large automobile — Lavrentiy, Maria and Panagia, and two small automobile — Kerch-2 and Yeysk.

14. 30.05.2024. UAV attack on a power substation and oil refinery, Taman, Russia Almost simultaneously with the attack on the ferries in Kerch, the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked energy facilities in the Krasnodar Krai. Social media reported that a drone that had attacked an area of the local refinery, had been shot down with small arms. Later, it was verified that it were the oil tanks in the Volna port that had been hit. Sources in the Ukrainian security services confirmed to the press that the combined missile and drone attack had been a joint operation of the Defense Forces and the SBU and targeted locations both in the occupied Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea region. The Defense Forces missile attack on the ferries was followed by the SBU drones hitting power substations in Russia that supplied electricity to the Crimean peninsula and the Kerch Strait, including ports. Substations, power supply networks, and enemy’s light oil product stock have been hit. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that at about 7 a.m., it jammed 7 drones over the Krasnodar region.

15. 30.05.2024. UAV attack on Armyansk, TOT Crimea. On the night of May 30, SBU drones attacked the Nebo-SVU long-range radar detection complex, designed to monitor airspace up to 350 km away and costing up to $100 million. The damage to the complex is confirmed by the absence of radiation from the radar.

16. 31.05.2024. UAV and 8 Neptune missile attack on the Kerch ferry crossing and oil terminal in Port Kavkaz, Krasnodar Krai. Around 3 a.m., a series of explosions from a drone attack were heard in Port Kavkaz and its vicinity, as well as in Novorossiysk. Russian authorities confirmed that UAVs had attacked an oil terminal in the port of Kavkaz in the Temryuk district of Krasnodar Krai. As a result of the hit, three fuel oil tanks caught fire. It was also reported that a fuel pipeline had been damaged. The main fire was ranked as high complexity and could not be extinguished for several hours. Another fire, likely caused by the falling debris, was reported outside the port. At about 4 a.m., a new series of explosions — reportedly 8-10 — occurred in the port. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian Neptune missiles had struck the ferry crossing and oil terminal in the Krasnodar Krai. Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian media, all of the eight Ukrainian-made RK-360MC Neptune missiles used in the attack hit their targets. Planet Labs satellite imagery from May 31 shows that a part of the Kavkaz port oil terminal has indeed been damaged. In addition to the two fires at the port oil depot, the satellite recorded two more fires to the north, in the sea, that started after 3 am. It is possible that several ships or boats had been hit, but no further information on the incident is available. The Port Kavkaz oil depot supplies fuel to the Russian occupiers in Crimea and the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The MORF reported that 5 Neptune and 29 UAVs had been intercepted and destroyed over the Krasnodar Krai during the night.

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For reference: From January to December 2023, i.e., over 365 days, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out at least 184 attacks on targets in Crimean peninsula and Russian Black Sea Fleet, averaging one every other day.
Among those:

• Sevastopol – at least 45 attacks, or 25%
• BSF ships at sea – at least 26 attacks, or 12%
• Yevpatoria, Saky, Chornomorsk and Rozdolnensky districts (Western Crimea) – at least 33 attacks, or 18%
• Dzhankoy region - at least 21 attacks, or 11,5%
• Feodosia region – at least 15 attacks, or 6,5%
• Kerch Bridge – at least 4 attacks.

Full database of attacks by Ukrainian drones and missiles on the territory of occupied Crimea and Russian ships in the Black Sea in January-December 2023 can be found here.

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This article has been prepared with the support of the European Union in Ukraine. The content of the article is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the EU