Crimean President Sergei Aksyonov released a statement via a telegraph channel detailing a deliberate decision to evacuate residents from nearby villages within a five kilometer radius of the emergency site in the Dzhankoy district. The measure aimed to move people to secure, temporary shelters as safety protocols were activated in response to the incident.
He noted that, based on early information, there were no reported casualties. The regional leadership conveyed a cautious optimism, emphasizing that authorities would continue to assess the situation and provide updates as more data became available.
Early on July 24, Aksyonov reported that Russian air defense systems actively operated in Crimea’s skies, intercepting and shooting down a Ukrainian aircraft. In addition, electronic warfare efforts disrupted several other hostile aircraft, and a total of eleven unmanned aerial vehicles carried out the assault. The defense measures appeared to neutralize a significant portion of the threat, though the episode underscored ongoing tensions in the region.
According to the evacuation briefing, the blasts damaged an ammunition depot located in the Dzhankoy district near the Volny settlement. Debris from the downed drone also struck a private house in the Kirovsky district, illustrating how close the attacks could press danger to civilian life and property.
Following the drones’ activity, Aksyonov ordered security checks and a suspension of railway traffic within the Dzhankoy district, along with a halt on the Dzhankoy-Simferopol highway. The decision prioritized passenger and cargo safety and reflected a broader precautionary approach in the face of drone operations and potential follow-up actions.
There was a prior drone incident on the night of July 17, when drones targeted the Crimean bridge, resulting in casualties including two adults who were killed and a young girl who was injured. The event sparked renewed concern about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the need for robust protective measures, even as authorities explored safer routing and contingency plans for traffic flow and access around the bridge area.
In the aftermath, officials suggested rerouting road traffic away from new zones associated with the Crimean bridge emergency. The goal was to minimize exposure to risk while maintaining essential mobility for residents and supplies. The situation remained dynamic as security services monitored air movements and assessed further hazards, always with a focus on civilian protection and regional stability.