Ukrainian forces land in Crimea, engage in battle with Russians
Ukrainian forces launched a land and air assault in Crimea on Thursday morning, engaging in heavy fighting with Russian forces near the village of Mayak, according to a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Intelligence Directorate.
The spokesman, Andriy Yusov, said that there were casualties on both sides, but he did not provide further details.
The Russian Telegram channel SHOT reported that the fighting took place near Cape Tarkhankut. According to the channel's sources, the "Fortress" plan has been put into place in the area.
The "Fortress" plan is a Russian military plan for defending Crimea in the event of an invasion. It is believed to involve the deployment of heavy artillery, air defence systems, and other military assets to the peninsula.
The fighting in Crimea comes after a Ukrainian airstrike on Wednesday destroyed the best Russian anti-aircraft system, the S-400 Triumph. The Bastion anti-ship missile system was also hit on Wednesday.
The head of the Ukrainian intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, has promised the invaders "many sleepless nights" in Crimea. The Kremlin has not commented on the incident.