Drone Strikes Target Power Infrastructure
Between July 23 and 24, 2024, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) launched attacks on 19 power distribution hubs. Of these, 17 were located in occupied Crimea, with the remaining two situated in other temporarily occupied areas, specifically in Donetsk region. These strikes caused a blackout across Crimea's resort zone. From July 1 to July 24, a total of 136 energy targets were hit.
Substations Damaged
USF drones successfully struck multiple substations in Crimea, including:
- Yalta (110/10 kV)
- Gurzuf (110/10 kV)
- Gaspra (110 kV)
- Malorichenske (110 kV)
- Vesele (110 kV)
- Koktebel near Shchebetivka (110 kV)
- Sudak (110 kV)
- Voskhod in Feodosia
- Blyzhni Kamyshi in Feodosia
- Kholodnyk in Yevpatoria
- Berehove near Molochny in Yevpatoria
- Oleksiivka in Crimea's steppe region
- Kraynye
- Skvortsovo
- Hlebivka in Vnukove
- Pump Station 16 near Vasylkove
- Prymorskyi
In Donetsk region, substations in Kremenivka and Druzhba were also taken offline.
The operation was carried out by the following units: the 414th Brigade 'Ptahy Madyara', the 413th Regiment 'Reid', the 427th Brigade 'Rarog', the 20th Brigade 'K-2', and the 1st Separate Center of the USF.
USF Commander Robert Brovdi (call sign 'Madjar') commented: 'The Crimean switch is off.'
He added: 'Smoke the worm out of the peninsula. Yalta, Gurzuf, Feodosia, Yevpatoria, Sudak, and so on.' He concluded with confidence in victory: 'We will stand firm. Moscow will fall. We will feed and rebuild Crimea.'
The list of affected substations in Crimea includes:
- Yalta
- Gurzuf
- Gaspra
- Malorichenske
- Vesele
- Koktebel
- Sudak
- Voskhod
- Blyzhni Kamyshi
- Kholodnyk
- Berehove
- Oleksiivka
- Kraynye
- Skvortsovo
- Hlebivka
- Pump Station 16
- Prymorskyi
In Donetsk region, the targeted substations were Kremenivka and Druzhba. The total tally for the operation from July 1 to July 24 stands at 136 energy targets.
These strikes on energy infrastructure in occupied Crimea highlight an intensification of combat operations and the growing role of drone technology in modern warfare. The blackout affecting Crimea's resort areas could severely disrupt the tourist season and the region's economy. Such actions also underscore the strategic objective of the USF to cripple the enemy's critical infrastructure, potentially reshaping control over occupied territories.
The recent strikes by Ukrainian drones have not only led to a significant blackout in Crimea's resort region but also highlight a broader trend of targeted attacks on energy infrastructure. For instance, in a single day, 13 electrical substations were taken offline, further crippling the region's power supply. To understand the implications of these coordinated efforts and their impact on the ongoing conflict, you can read more about the extensive damage caused by drone strikes in Crimea here.