A significant fire broke out at the Kerch power plant, leading to substantial blackouts in various areas of Crimea. Reports indicate that explosions were heard in Kerch, Dzhankoi, Feodosia, Simferopol district, Shcholkine, and Krasnoperekopsk, prompting the closure of the Kerch Bridge for traffic.
Satellite images following the attack reveal multiple fires across the Kerch Peninsula and the port of Kavkaz. The monitoring group observed a plume of smoke extending approximately 47 kilometers from the power plant.
Additionally, a fire was recorded near the village of Izumrudne, close to a bridge over the North Crimean Canal. Fires have also been reported in areas where occupying forces are located on Arabat Spit, along with reports of shelling in Henichesk Hirka and Shchaslyvtsiv.
In the aftermath of these nighttime attacks, power outages began to occur across Crimea. According to “Krymenergoinform,” electricity is currently unavailable in urban areas including Yevpatoria, Saki, Krasnoperekopsk, and Dzhankoi, as well as in the Krasnoperekopsk, Saky, Dzhankoy, and Krasnohvardiysk districts. Energy officials attribute these outages to “technological disruptions in the power networks.”
Background
- Ukrainian defense forces have periodically targeted occupiers’ facilities in Crimea, recently increasing attacks on bridges surrounding the peninsula. Former U.S. Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges believes that the first step towards liberating Crimea is to isolate it by severing the road to Dzhankoi and destroying the Kerch Bridge.
- The publication “GORDON” has compiled information regarding the disrupted tourist season in Crimea and how it may become isolated.
- On June 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that strikes had been recorded on both sides of the Crimean Bridge, affecting maritime logistics for oil transportation and an oil depot in Kerch. Following this, gasoline, electricity, and water disappeared from the peninsula.
- The occupying “governor” of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, announced on June 21 via Telegram that a series of “forced temporary measures” would be implemented on the occupied peninsula.
