Smoke billowing from a munitions depot in the village of Mayskoye, Crimea.

WORLD

Ukraine suspected of drone attack in Crimea

A suspected Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russia's famed Black Sea Fleet in Crimea as Kyiv allegedly stepped up attacks against Russian targets in the peninsula. The attacks in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, came amid concerns about a possible nuclear catastrophe as a Russian-Ukrainian military standoff continued around Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

By Stefan J. Bos

Video footage appeared to show smoke rising in Crimea's port city of Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea fleet is based. There were multiple reports of Saturday's explosion in Crimea.

The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said a drone flew into the roof of the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet before being shot down over naval bases.

Though he stressed that nobody was hurt, the destabilizing effect of Crimea being pulled into the war has become apparent.

Of all the Ukrainian territories that Moscow occupied, its grip has been tightest around Crimea.

Russian tourists have felt comfortable and secure enough to use the peninsula as a regular holiday destination.

That was until two weeks ago.

MORE VIOLENCE

Besides Saturday's suspected drone strike, two ammunition depots exploded in recent days, prompting people to flee.

Russian media noted that a power plant, a military storage facility, a railway track, and residential buildings were damaged, causing many to cut short their holidays.

While Ukraine hasn't officially claimed responsibility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Moscow that Kyiv's military would answer every Russian strike on its territory.

The attacks in Crimea happened while military maneuvers in Ukraine continued around Europe's largest nuclear power plant, raising fears of a nuclear disaster.

U.N. INSPECTORS

Ukrainian President Zelensky said the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station could start to be restored by a visit of international inspectors.

He spoke after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said U.N. officials would be granted permission to visit the site.

Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for shelling the complex, which Russia controls, raising fears of an atomic disaster that could impact much of Europe and beyond.

The conflict already had international implications as millions of hungry people had to wait on grain exported from Ukraine as Russia blocked ports till both sides signed up for a grain export deal.

However, with the Horn of Africa facing drought, the U.S. announced it is planning to buy about 150,000 metric tonnes of grain from Ukraine for an upcoming shipment of food aid.