As a result of the Ukrainian troops shelling the Chernomorneftegaz drilling platforms, three were injured, seven were missing, the head of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov announced on his Telegram channel.
A total of 109 people were in the drilling rigs at the time of the attacks. According to Aksyonov, the first strike took place at 08:37 Moscow time, with a total of three hits on three drilling rigs.
“Today at around 8 am, enemy troops attacked the drilling platforms of Chornomorneftegaz. Since the morning I have been in contact with my colleagues from the Ministry of Defense and the FSB, we are working to save people, ”the statement said.
Aksyonov added that the search for seven missing persons continues. Aviation is involved in the rescue operation of the Ministry of Defense, patrol ships are used.
“There were 109 people in the towers in the morning. According to preliminary information, the most critical was the first blow to the first tower, respectively. to relax [вышкам]According to preliminary information, there are no injured or dead. “21 people were evacuated,” he said.
Chornomorneftegaz platforms are located far from the coast of Crimea and the resorts of the peninsula. According to Crimean Senator Olga Kovitidi, the area attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces is 71 km from Odessa. The equipment is located 100 km from the Crimean coast.
Kovitidi believes that if the Chornomorneftegaz platforms had not released gas in time, the influence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces would have caused the gas tank to explode, which would have affected Odessa.
Aksyonov said that there are sufficient air defense systems in the region and that the entire land part of the peninsula, including the Crimean bridge, has been closed. “I am in daily contact with my colleagues from the Ministry of Defense and the Southern Military District, I also know the situation on the Crimean bridge. “There are more than enough air defense systems,” he said.
The main activity of the state-owned company “Chernomorneftegaz” is the extraction of natural gas and gas condensate. It makes use of hydrocarbon deposits on the shelf of the Black Sea and in the waters of the Sea of Azov, as well as on the land part of the Crimean Peninsula.
Crimean State Duma Deputy Mikhail Sheremet said the Russian Federation could have a “free hand” after Ukraine’s attack on the Chornomorneftegaz drilling rigs.
“Civil infrastructure facilities were attacked, so our hands were undone. Let them wait for answers. “The end of those who make the decision to attack our drilling platforms will be sad,” he said.
He added that the Russian side will respond comprehensively to the bombardment.
attack on oil depot
In April, Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that two helicopters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out two airstrikes in Belgorod, resulting in a fire in the city’s oil depot that engulfed eight fuel tanks. According to officials, no one was injured during the emergency, but due to the fire, residents of the houses on three streets near the enterprise began to be resettled in less dangerous places.
Volodymyr Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Committee, expressed the opinion on the radio “Moscow speaking” that air defense systems cannot detect the movement of Ukrainian helicopters because they fly too low.
“They flew with great danger, there were about seven meters. With such a low height, you can attach it to any obstacle. Air defense systems, radars work at higher levels, they mainly provide protection against missiles and aircraft. “Given that they use movement tactics at very low altitudes, I am confident that appropriate measures will be taken along the border,” he said.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, emphasized that the attack on the oil depot did not constitute a suitable ground for the negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine at that time.
Source: Gazeta
