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Ukraine reclaims offshore drilling platforms near Crimea

11.09.2023 15:00
Ukrainian forces have retaken control of multiple oil and gas offshore drilling platforms in the Black Sea, near the Russian-occupied Crimea, according to an announcement from Ukraine's military intelligence (GUR) on Monday.
Photo:
Photo: PAP/UKRINFORM

The platforms, known as the "Boyko Towers", are named after former Ukrainian Minister of Economy, Yuriy Boyko, who was a member of a now-outlawed pro-Russian party. The platforms had been under Russian control since 2015.

The GUR detailed the events in a Telegram message, describing the recapture as a result of a "unique operation". The operation saw a skirmish between Ukrainian special forces operating on boats and a Russian fighter jet, which was damaged and was compelled to pull back.

Further successes in the operation included the acquisition of "valuable trophies" by the GUR, such as helicopter munitions and a state-of-the-art radar system capable of tracking maritime movements in the Black Sea.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the platforms had been leveraged by Russia for military ends, serving as both landing pads for helicopters and as radar station locations.

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Source: PAP, Reuters