Reports suggest that Kyiv has cut back on missile strikes in Crimea as Russian drones are helping Moscow track Ukrainian artillery, including the U.S-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).
Since Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Ukraine has targeted several Russian military sites in Crimea, using British Storm Shadow missiles and HIMARS to make impactful strikes.
However, a pro-Ukrainian news outlet, Politika Strani, noted a decrease in Kyiv’s attacks in Crimea due to the effectiveness of Russian reconnaissance drones.
The outlet stated, “A challenge facing the use of HIMARS to strike Crimea is the recent rise in Russian surveillance drones,” alongside a map of the Crimean region on its Telegram channel.
On July 8, the Russian military claimed to have targeted three HIMARS launchers in the Kherson region, supported by drone footage showing the attack, unconfirmed by Kyiv.
Politika Strani highlighted the need for HIMARS in Mykolaiv to fire ATACMS missiles towards Sevastopol, a critical site near the Black Sea Fleet hub, but noted the presence of Russian drones in the area.
The drones being “extremely active tens of kilometers from the front line” pose a significant risk to HIMARS installations, according to the outlet.
While Ukrainian forces won’t stop strikes on Crimea, the increased use of Russian drones has made them more cautious about deploying HIMARS near the front line.
Politika Strani noted a recent alarm on the peninsula caused by a Ukrainian attack on July 5, contrasting with more frequent attacks the previous month.
Notably, fragments from a U.S-supplied ATACMS missile destroyed by Russian defense systems fell in Sevastopol on June 23, resulting in casualties, as reported by Russian media.
Ukraine is also utilizing drones to target Russian oil facilities, with unclaimed strikes aimed at disrupting Moscow’s military operations.
According to intelligence sources, Ukraine’s State Security Service orchestrated a strike on an oil depot in Rostov Oblast, causing an explosion that damaged stored fuel.