Ukraine claims Crimea landing for 'special operation' on Independence Day

Ukraine has claimed that its troops landed successful occupied Crimea, arsenic it marked its 2nd Independence Day warring Russian invaders.

The mission's objectives were achieved with nary casualties among its troops, defence ministry spokesperson Andriy Yusov wrote connected Telegram.

Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine successful 2014, 8 years earlier it launched a full-scale invasion.

Mr Yusov said an brushwood ensued successful Olenivka, westbound of the peninsula.

He claimed Russia suffered unit losses. However, determination was nary contiguous remark from Moscow.

"Troops person landed astatine the peninsula arsenic portion of a peculiar operation," Mr Yusov told nationalist broadcaster Suspilne, referring to Crimea.

Mr Yusov refused to springiness further details of the operation, but helium claimed that the Ukrainian authorities emblem was concisely raised successful Crimea.

Suspilne reported that the skirmish successful Tarkhankut progressive craft and navy ships. A Russian Telegram transmission had besides reported of warring successful that area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released an Independence Day connection connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, rallying his countrymen to assistance support the country's independence.

"In this fight, everyone counts. Because the combat is for thing that is important to everyone," Mr Zelensky said.

Independence Day has gained accrued value among Ukrainians since Russia's penetration started successful February 2022, according to a canvass by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. It is present the country's 3rd astir important holiday, down lone Easter and Christmas.

Ukraine launched its counter-offensive past May, attempting to expel the Russians from onshore they had captured successful the eastbound and southbound of the country.

However, analysts astatine the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) accidental the advances adjacent Robotyne and Urozhaine are "likely tactically important due to the fact that of the operation of Russian antiaircraft lines". They besides enactment that Russian forces person dedicated important effort to clasp the settlements.

Russia has besides accused Ukraine of drone attacks, the astir caller of which connected 23 August deed a skyscraper nether operation successful Moscow.

Ukraine's assertion of landing its troops successful Crimea came a time aft Yevgeny Prigozhin, the person of the mercenary radical that fought with Russia successful the war, was connected the rider database of a backstage pitchy that crashed aft taking disconnected from Moscow.

Mr Prigozhin had led a failed mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin successful June.