Russia said on Friday (Nov 18) it was building up fortifications in the annexed Crimean peninsula after its Russian troops were withdrawn to neighboring Kherson region in Ukraine amid a counter-offensive by Kiev.
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“Fortification works are being carried out under my supervision in the territory of Crimea to guarantee the safety of the residents of Crimea.“After the annexation of this Ukrainian peninsula in 2014, the governor appointed by Moscow, Sergey Aksyonov, said:
He emphasized, however, that the security of Crimea has passed.”first of all, through the activities to be carried out in the territory of Kherson region“, which is adjacent to the peninsula in the south of Ukraine. The announcement comes as Russian forces staged a humiliating withdrawal from the region last week after failing to contain a counter-offensive by Ukrainian soldiers.
The withdrawal of Russian soldiers, who have notably left the regional capital of the same name, has allowed Kiev’s forces to move their weapons closer to Crimea, which has been targeted several times in recent months. In October, the Crimean bridge connecting the peninsula to Russian territory was partially destroyed in an attack attributed to Ukraine by Moscow, which caused a truck bomb.
Other attacks attributed to Ukrainian forces have also been carried out in Crimea, particularly against the Russian navy in Sevastopol or several Russian military infrastructures on the peninsula. Since its annexation in 2014, Moscow considers Crimea part of its territory, which is not recognized by the international community. Kiev says it wants to take back the peninsula.
Source: Le Figaro
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