Ukraine’s security services launched a raid on a key Russian base which they claimed was destroyed in the fighting.
The SBU released a video which it said showed airborne and waterborne drones attacking the target, followed by large explosions.
Ukrainian broadcaster Suspline said of the video: “Last night, SBU drones hit the Russian coast guard base on Lake Donuzlav in occupied Crimea, law enforcement sources told Sospilny.
“As a result of the combined attack of sea and air drones, the following were damaged and disabled: the headquarters with a control post, a warehouse of ammunition and equipment, an electrical substation, technical facilities and firing positions.
“The video was provided to the Public by a source in the Security Service.”
The coordinated attack was conducted as a joint operation between the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy.
Russian forces failed to defend the base from the droning onslaught as Vladimir Putin‘s Navy was reportedly conducting exercises around Lake Donuzlav.
The Ukrainian National News agency quoted an inside source who described the strike as a “reminder to the enemy” that occupying forces would be destroyed.
Head of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk has previously stated: “Death is the only prospect we can offer the occupiers.”
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have downed 33 drones over Crimea and two over the Bryansk region, close to the country’s border with Ukraine.
Moscow officials reported a further ten maritime drones were destroyed over the Black Sea.
Residents of Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, reported hearing loud noises and several explosions overnight.
Andrei Kravchenko, mayor of the Black Sea port city of Novorossiisk issued a warning to locals urging them to stay away from the shoreline amid the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes.
News of Ukraine‘s latest tactical drone strike comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with European leaders in a summit held at Blenheim Palace.
Speaking at the fourth session of the European Political Community, the Ukrainian leader thanked fellow representatives for their support and appealed for Europe to unite against the global threat posed by Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said: “Putin has sacrificed tens of thousands of his citizens but has achieved nothing significant.”
He added: “We can steer this war towards its just ending with the power of our weapons and our diplomacy, and we should not fear these capabilities.”