Checkup by drones. Preparation for the liberation of Crimea?

The topic of the return of Crimea has recently been increasingly discussed in reputable world publications. The possibility of returning Crimea by military means or through negotiations is increasingly commented on by senior officials of NATO countries and Ukraine

Artwork by Khalil Dervish

On the night of January 4-5, videos from Crimea appeared, showing numerous shots from Russian air defense in the sky, followed by a powerful explosion. The detonation occurred in the village of Seitler (Nizhnyohirskiy) in the northeast of the peninsula and 50 km from Dzhankoy.

Local telegram channels reported an explosion near the oil depot in the north of the village. 

On December 24, locals already reported explosions in the same area. On that day, a video was shared on social networks, and it was clear from the comments to that video that it was the attack of at least two drones and a powerful explosion. In the second video from the surveillance camera, a strong explosion on the ground was also heard.

In addition, on social networks, locals reported hitting the oil depot in the village of Seitler (Nizhnyohirskiy) and a mushroom cloud after the explosion. Other sources reported an attack on the railway station "Nyzhnyohirska".

The occupiers traditionally do not comment on the consequences of both explosions: after any attacks in Crimea, the gauleiters carefully hide the failures of their air defense. 

The village with a population of fewer than 10 thousand people has an important logistical importance because it connects the railway from Kerch to Dzhankoy, which actually means the connection of the Russian continent with Crimea. Probably after the announced restrictions until mid-late 2023 on freight traffic on the Kerch Bridge due to the explosion in October, the occupiers are counting even more on the railways. Copernicus Center confirmed the still significant damage on the Kerch Bridge by publishing new satellite images. It can be assumed that it is the station Nizhnyogirska together with the oil depot near it is the supplier of fuel for the Russian trains transporting heavy weapons north to the occupied territories.

Since the beginning of this year alone, there have been at least 10 explosions in different parts of Crimea. In addition to yesterday's explosion in the Nyzhnyohirsky district, it became known about the explosion at Cape Fiolent near the occupied Sevastopol. Locals reported the detonation of a gas cylinder.

On January 4, an explosion was reported near the Belbek airfield, also near Sevastopol.

On January 3, it became known about drone attacks in the village of Bay-Oglu-Kipchak (Vogni) in the north-east of Crimea, in the village of Aqmecit (Chornomorske) on the west coast, and in the city of Dzhankoy.

On January 2, the night was noisy in Sevastopol, Simferopol, and the south of Bakhchisarai. 

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, from August 9 to December 26, 2022, at least 74 "claps" occurred on the peninsula, almost all of which were drone attacks. 

Among the most successful attacks were the explosion at the Novofedorivka and Belbek airfields in August and undoubtedly the most spectacular one - the strike on the Kerch Bridge on October 8. 

The topic of the return of Crimea has recently been increasingly discussed in reputable world publications. The possibility of returning Crimea by military means or through negotiations is increasingly commented on by senior officials of NATO countries and Ukraine. 

Ukraine's chief intelligence officer Kyrylo Budanov told in his interview with ABC News that Ukraine plans to launch a large-scale counterattack this spring. Budanov explained that "the liberation of territories will take place throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to Donbas". 

In an interview with The Guardian, the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said that the return of Crimea would be considered a victory for Ukraine, with 2023 being the decisive year. 

Spanish newspaper El Diario writes that Crimea is Zelenskyy's best asset for negotiations with Russia, and the preservation of Crimea is so valuable for Putin that he could use tactical nuclear weapons if he feels threatened. 

The publication also recalls the words of President Zelensky at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore: "A simple ceasefire will not help. If we do not liberate all our territory, we will not get peace". El Diario also cites a poll among the population of Ukraine, according to which 85% of citizens support the return of all territories as a condition for a ceasefire. 

The administration of US President Joe Biden is confident that Ukraine already has the military potential to liberate Crimea, but has concerns about the possible threat of Russia's use of nuclear weapons. 

At the same time, the Ukrainian intelligence under the Ministry of Defense has already stated that the Russian Federation now has air and sea-based nuclear warheads in Crimea, and that military intelligence monitors the movement of nuclear weapons and knows where they are. Intelligence sources also report that the Russians are moving new military units to the north of Crimea and building defensive structures. 

The UA:SOUTH Sources confirm the presence of fortifications and trenches not only in the north but also on the western coast of Crimea near Kezlev (Yevpatoria) and Aqmecit (Chornomorske).

Satellite images also appeared on the southern coast of Crimea near Alushta.