Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence/Handout via REUTERS
- Ukrainian special forces made a surprise amphibious raid into occupied Crimea on Thursday.
- Kyiv's military intelligence agency said its troops engaged with Russians and raised a flag there.
- The symbolic — but daring — mission comes as Ukraine observes its 32nd Independence Day.
Ukrainian special forces made an amphibious raid into the occupied Crimean peninsula on Thursday, where they battled Russian troops and planted the country's flag, Kyiv's military intelligence agency has revealed.
While the daring mission does not appear to have an immediate operational impact, the fact that Ukraine got boots on the ground in the territory is a symbolic victory. It is the latest in a string of engagements around Crimea, which Ukraine has vowed to liberate from Russia.
Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence, part of the country's defense ministry and also known as the HUR, said in a statement that it conducted the "special operation" with the support of the country's naval forces, according to a translation by state-owned news agency Ukrinform.
"The special operations units used watercraft and landed on the shore" near Olenivka, a small village at the westernmost point of Crimea that sits along the Black Sea. On Wednesday, the HUR said a Russian S-400 air-defense system — one of Moscow's more formidable weapons — was destroyed near the village.
During the mission, the HUR said its forces engaged in combat with Russian soldiers — leaving them with troop and equipment losses — and raised the country's flag, a symbolic moment for Ukraine as it observes its Independence Day and the 18-month anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
"All objectives and tasks were fulfilled. As the special operation was completed, Ukrainian defenders left the scene without casualties," said the HUR, which published a video to Telegram that shows Ukrainian forces on a boat and later raising the flag.
Russia's defense ministry did not immediately release a comment specifically on the landing, though the HUR said Moscow published a message about the scheduled destruction of munitions. "Ukraine's Defense Forces will continue to assist the occupiers with the destruction of ammunition, equipment, and personnel," the HUR joked.
Speaking at a press conference later in Kyiv on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the raid. He said his forces suffered no casualties but cautioned reading into the operation too much.
"It is too early to talk about the liberation of Crimea. Second, I will have a detailed report from General Budanov," Zelenskyy said, referring to Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukraine's military intelligence agency. "The third — yes, these are our guys. Fourth, there are no casualties on our side, which is good news."
Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to cause mayhem far beyond the front lines
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 when the"little green men" armed with weapons used by the Russian military invaded. Russia initially denied it had moved troops into the Black Sea peninsula before Putin finally admitted it had seized the region.
Western governments, including the US, do not recognize it as legitimate Russian territory.
Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have routinely said that the country remains unwavering in its goal of eventually liberating the occupied peninsula, and Kyiv's military has stepped up attacks there in recent weeks — like destroying an S-400 system this week and a recent sea drone strike on the strategic Kerch Bridge.
The HUR's Budanov said in a media interview earlier this week that many people living in Crimea are looking forward to its liberation and hinted at future attacks on the peninsula."We need to give them confidence that their hopes are not in vain," Budanov said.
"That's why we have to hold events such as the Crimean Platform, events, let's say, with the resistance movement in the temporarily occupied territories, just destroy the occupiers in our Crimea, which, in principle, you see, and will see in the coming days," he added.
Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence/Handout via REUTERS
Ukraine has increasingly demonstrated its ability to cause mayhem far beyond the current front lines. As Kyiv's forces press on with their grinding counteroffensive this summer, they have also managed to strike Russian targets around the Black Sea and have made drone attacks on Moscow a regular occurrence.
The amphibious raid — and symbolic flag raising — also comes as Ukraine observes its 32nd Independence Day. To mark the occasion, Zelenskyy presented awards, insignia, and battle flags to military units during a celebration in Kyiv's St. Sophia Square to mark the occasion. Several heads of state, including some from NATO members, were also in attendance.
"When Russia invaded with a full-scale war, there was not a single day that Ukraine lacked unity," Zelenskyy said in a speech. "For a long time, the bravery of our warriors did not have the experience of using the world's best weapons, and now our state gives Ukrainian warriors such weaponry. And I thank everyone who helps us with it. "
Indeed, many of Kyiv's Western military backers sent messages to mark Ukrainian Independence Day, renewing commitments to keep supporting the country with economic and security assistance.
"Today, as Ukraine commemorates another year of independence, the United States remains steadfast in our commitment to ensure that it can celebrate many more. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes in its fight for its security and freedom," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.