**Ukraine’s Drone Strike Hits Russian Ammunition Depot in Crimea**
In a significant blow to Russia’s war effort, a drone strike hit an ammunition depot belonging to the 126th Coastal Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet in Perevalne, near Simferopol in occupied Crimea. The attack occurred on May 16, at around 2 am, and has been reported by several monitoring channels and eyewitnesses.
According to Krymsky Veter, a Telegram channel that monitors developments in Crimea, explosions and fires broke out at the facility, which is part of Russia’s military bases in the region. Videos shared by the channel show the site engulfed in flames, with additional footage capturing secondary detonations.
**Ukraine’s Deep-Strike Campaign**
This attack is just one example of Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign, which targets Russian military bases, command centers, airfields, defense industry sites, and fuel facilities inside Russia and occupied territories. The aim of these strikes is to disrupt Russia’s war effort and undermine its ability to wage war.
**Multiple Explosions Reported Across Crimea**
In addition to the attack on the ammunition depot in Perevalne, multiple explosions were reported near the Belbek and Kacha airfields in the Sevastopol area on May 16. Local residents told Krymsky Veter that they had heard explosions in these areas, which are under attack again.
The previous strike on Kacha airbase occurred on May 2, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Ukraine’s drone strikes to Russia’s military infrastructure in Crimea.
**Russian Authorities Respond with Intensified Surveillance**
In response to the drone attacks, Russian occupation authorities have intensified civilian monitoring in Simferopol, Crimea’s capital city. According to Krymsky Veter, Russian personnel are randomly stopping pedestrians and demanding access to their personal messages and photo galleries on their phones.
This move has been met with warnings from local residents and media outlets, advising people not to keep sensitive information on their main phone.
**Infrastructure Disruption and Emergency Response**
As the munitions depot in Perevalne continued to burn, occupation authorities blocked the Simferopol-Alushta road, including the Angarskyi Pass, and redirected all traffic. Local residents also reported seeing numerous ambulances driving from Simferopol along the Yalta highway toward Perevalne.
By around 1 pm on May 16, explosions and fires persisted at the depot, with Krymsky Veter reporting that the Yalta-Simferopol road was closed, and cars were being turned around. The situation remains fluid, with reports of further explosions in various towns across Crimea.
**Russia’s Response**
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces shot down 43 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea and 21 over Crimea. However, these claims are difficult to verify at this stage, and it is unclear whether any of these drone strikes were successful.
**Conclusion**
The attack on Russia’s ammunition depot in Perevalne is a significant blow to Russia’s war effort and highlights Ukraine’s ability to target key military infrastructure across occupied territories. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign is having a profound impact on Russia’s war strategy.
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