At least three people were injured, and eight disappeared today due to an attack allegedly perpetrated by the Ukrainian Army against Russian oil platforms in the Black Sea, reported the governor of the annexed Crimean peninsula, Sergei Aksionov.
The oil rigs of Chornomorneftegaz, which were attacked by the Ukrainian military, are located on the western coast of the Russian peninsula, with a minimum time for missiles to fly from Odesa.
The head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said that the Ministry of Defense was carrying out a rescue operation with the participation of patrol ships and aviation in the area of the attack on the Chernomorneftegaz drilling platforms.
“Today in the morning, the enemy attacked the platforms of Chernomorneftegaz. I am in contact with colleagues from the Ministry of Defense and the Federal Security Service of Russia; we are working on the rescue of employees,” he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
According to him, five people were rescued, and the search for several more continues. Aksyonov said that 109 people were on the drilling rigs during the Ukrainian strike, and 21 have already been evacuated. Earlier, the People’s Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Oleksiy Goncharenko, announced the attack.
SUE “Chernomorneftegaz” is known to be developing two gas condensate, seven gas and one oil fields on the Black and Azov Seas shelf, as well as in the onshore part of the Crimea.
Senator from Crimea Kovitidi told RIA Novosti that two of the victims had severe burns, and one had a severe shrapnel wound. He said the Ukrainian strike was carried out on the platforms at the field, 71 kilometres from Odesa. He also said the work on the three platforms hit by Ukraine has been stopped, and gas is being released to stop the fire.
Earlier, Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmitry Marchenko said that the Crimean bridge is the number one goal for the Ukrainian military.