Crimea Slammed by Massive Drone Attack, Explosions Rock Russian Airfields

In the early hours of the morning, May 2, Russian-occupied Crimea came under a large-scale drone attack, with explosions reported simultaneously in multiple cities across the peninsula, including Sevastopol, Yevpatoria, Saky, and near Hvardiiske.

According to Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, air defense systems were activated in the areas of Sevastopol Bay, Kacha, and Balaklava.

“The loud noises heard in the city were our military repelling an attempted drone attack. Preliminary data indicates that seven UAVs were destroyed mid-air over the sea at a considerable distance from the coast,” he wrote shortly after 2 a.m.

By around 3 a.m., Razvozhayev reported that the Russian Black Sea Fleet, in coordination with air defense units, was repelling a “massive combined attack” on Sevastopol from the sea – in the areas of Cape Khersones, the bay, Kacha, and Balaklava.

At approximately 4 a.m., Russian authorities temporarily shut down traffic on the Kerch Bridge. The blockade lasted around 2.5 hours.

The Telegram channel “Crimean Wind” reported explosions in Sevastopol, Dzhankoi, as well as in Saky, Novofedorivka, and Kacha – all locations with Russian military airfields.

Monitoring channels shared videos and photos of the attack, including footage of a fire in the village of Uhlove near the Kacha airfield and sounds of explosions. According to “Crimean Wind,” the fire may have resulted from Russian air defense activity. In some videos, the sound of ammunition detonating could be heard, potentially indicating a hit on a weapons storage site.

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Ukraine Targets Crimean Supply Lines – Reactions

The impact of Ukrainian strikes on supply lines leading to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula is becoming increasingly apparent.

The Atesh guerrilla movement, citing its agent, reported via Telegram that explosions and visible fire were observed at the Kacha military airfield in occupied Crimea, likely due to detonating ammunition.

“At this point, we can speak of a successful strike by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Russian military facilities in Crimea tonight,” the group said, citing insider information. “And this is far from everything the Russians have prepared.”

Meanwhile, the ASTRA Telegram channel reported increased fire activity near the Kacha airfield and the nearby village of Kutove following the drone strike.

Local residents also shared on social media that they heard explosions near the Inkerman winery, located about two kilometers from the airfield.

ASTRA also pointed to a fire at the Bakhchisarai-based Budindustriya plant, one of the largest producers of construction materials in the region.

As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding damage or casualties. Kyiv Post has contacted sources in Ukrainian intelligence, but they have declined to comment on the situation in occupied Crimea.

Andriy Kovalenko, a representative of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said that the explosions at military facilities in temporarily occupied Crimea are purely a matter of security. According to him, the demilitarization of the peninsula is crucial for safety in the Black Sea region.

“Russia, just like the Soviet Union once did, views Crimea solely as a military base – and that poses a direct threat to maritime navigation. Moreover, Ukrainian cities are being targeted with strikes launched from the peninsula,” Kovalenko said.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses shot down 89 drones over Crimea and another 23 over the Black Sea. The ministry also alleged that four drones were downed over Krasnodar Krai, two over Oryol Oblast, and one each over the Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the Sea of Azov.

Occupied Crimea remains a key strategic hub for Russia in its war against Ukraine – used for missile launches, logistics for southern operations, and as the main base of the Black Sea Fleet. The peninsula holds both symbolic and military value, with its 2014 annexation marking the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine continues to target military infrastructure in Crimea, including ammunition depots, airfields, air defense sites, and naval assets. Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have disabled several major Russian landing and reconnaissance ships, forcing Moscow to relocate much of its fleet to Novorossiysk.