Explosions and shooting heard across the Crimean city of Sevastopol today are the result of a joint operation between Ukraine’s GRU and the navy, according to a report. To the east, Kyiv claims it has retaken another village near the symbolic city of Bakhmut.
Sunday 17 September 2023 21:00, UK
Traffic has started moving on the Crimean bridge again, the operator said on Telegram.
This comes after it vehicles were at a standstill for a time earlier on.
We’ve been bringing you reports of drone attacks and a potential Ukrainian military intelligence operation in Sevastopol – but the operator has not said if those were linked or why the bridge was closed.
It first reported traffic stopping at 7.26pm local time, before vehicles were allowed to move again at 10.54pm local time – leaving it shut between 5.26pm and 8.54pm UK time.
A third drone has been shot down over Crimea this evening, according to the Russian ministry of defence.
This is in addition to the two reportedly shot down earlier on (see 7.44pm post).
While unconfirmed, we brought you a report a short time ago suggesting that Ukrainian intelligence and the navy were conducting a joint operation on the peninsula (see 8.00pm post) – with residents in the city of Sevastopol reporting hearing explosions and shooting.
It is not clear if the reported drone attacks are linked with any potential operation.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has congratulated members of the armed forces who reportedly recaptured the village of Klishchiivka earlier today.
Speaking in his nightly address, he said: “Today, I would like to commend the soldiers who are step by step returning Ukraine’s territory in the area of Bakhmut”.
“The 80th Air Assault Brigade, the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, the glorious 95th and the Joint Assault Brigade of the National Police ‘Rage’.
“Klishchiivka! Well done!”
If Ukrainian claims are to be believed, the village was captured barely 48 hours after forces retook another settlement, Andriivka, which is about 3km away.
Explosions heard across occupied Sevastopol throughout today are the result of a “joint operation of the GUR and the navy” of Ukraine, the Suspilne news agency said, quoting intelligence officials.
“On Sunday evening, 17 September, a powerful explosion rang out in the central part of temporarily occupied Sevastopol,” the news outlet said.
“This is a joint special operation of the GUR and the Navy,” it added.
It is not clear if such an operation has taken place, or is still underway – as the report is unverified.
The outlet said multiple explosions and shooting had been heard by locals in the Crimean city.
Earlier, we brought you news that the Crimean bridge had been closed to traffic, although it is not clear if the events are linked just yet, and in our previous post, we brought you the Russian ministry’s report that two drones had been downed in Crimea in the last few hours.
The Russian ministry of defence has reported the downing of three Ukrainian drones over its territory in the last couple of hours.
It said two were shot down over southwestern Crimea – appearing to continue a spate of recent drone attacks on the peninsula, at around 8.30pm local time (6.30pm UK time).
Then, ten minutes later at 8.40pm local time (6.40pm UK time), another was shot down over Belgorod, the ministry said.
Earlier, we brought you news that Belgorod had been the subject of Ukrainian shelling, according to the governor there (see previous post).
It is not clear if there was any damage or any casualties in Crimea, but the governor in Belgorod said that initial reports indicated neither damage nor injuries or deaths.
The claims have not been independently verified.
The governor of the Russian region of Belgorod claims a district in the area came under attack from Ukrainian shelling today.
“The village of Kozinka [in the] Grayvoronsky urban district came under fire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces” Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.
“There were no casualties.”
Two private residential buildings were damaged, he said, with windows broken and fences cut, he said, before adding that contractors would be dispatched to carry our repairs.
Traffic has been halted on the Crimean bridge, according to Telegram channel of the operator.
“Those on the bridge and in the inspection area are asked to remain calm and follow the instructions of transport security officers,” it said.
This closure was first reported around 7.26pm local time (5.26pm UK time).
State news agency RIA also noted the closure: “Vehicular traffic on the Crimean bridge is temporarily blocked.”
The independent Interfax news agency also reported a stop in traffic, although neither agency has reported why.
We’ll bring you more as we get it.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and minority leader Mitch McConnell will host an all-senators meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, according to a report.
Andrew Desiderio, a congress reporter for Punchbowl News, said the meeting would take place as part of the president’s expected visit to the US next week – citing an aide
“The Senate will also have a classified briefing on Ukraine on Wednesday,” he said, adding that the Senate was “eager to send more money to Ukraine as part of the stopgap funding bill at the end of the month”.
The report has not been verified and Sky News has reached out to the US Senate for comment.
Ukrainian officials say its forces have recaptured Klishchiivka – less than 48 hours after it liberated the village of Andriivka.
The reports have not been independently verified.
“Klishchiivka was cleared of the Russians and liberated,” Alexander Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, said on Telegram.
Additionally, Ilya Yevlash, the head of the press service of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told the Suspilne news agency that the village had been taken, with video and images circulating reportedly showing soldiers there celebrating and holding Ukrainian flags.
The village is just under 8km from the city of Bakhmut – with Andriivka, reportedly captured on Friday, around 3km away.
Russia denied yesterday that it had lost Andriivka on Friday, as Ukraine had reported, and we’ll bring you the latest from Moscow on the potential capture of Klishchiivka as soon as we get it.
Two have died and another has been injured in the Kherson region today in two separate incidents.
One man died and another was injured after a tractor drove over a landmine in the Beryslav district, according to the governor.
“During field work, a tractor hit a Russian mine. As a result of the explosion, a 45-year-old man sustained numerous injuries,” Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.
“A 26-year-old man was also injured.”
Elsewhere, an elderly Russian man was killed after Russian shelling struck the Bilozer district of the region.
“Around 2.50pm (12.50pm UK tme), the occupants fired at Tomina Balka in Bilozersk district,” Mr Prokudin said in a later Telegram post.
A man, who was born in 1954, came under fire in his yard, he said.
“His injuries were too severe. Doctors who arrived at the scene only pronounced him dead.”
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