OREANDA-NEWS  Kiev has become stronger to attack Crimea due to difficulties with the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), according to First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chepa. 

"This is an attempt by Ukraine to compensate for the failed counteroffensive, which they have not been able to implement for several months in order to justify the enormous costs incurred by the West to cover this conflict. Kiev continues to beg and blackmail NATO to get funds. Therefore, Ukrainians commit [attacks for] some kind of justification of actions," the deputy explained.

On the night of July 18, 28 drones were shot down in Crimea, the head of the region Sergey Aksenov said. According to him, no one was injured.

The attack was also confirmed by the Ministry of Defense. The ministry said that 17 drones shot down air defense systems (air defense), another 11 were suppressed by electronic warfare (EW). Not a single drone has reached the target, there is no destruction.

On the night of July 17, surface drones attacked the Crimean Bridge. Due to the explosion, part of the structure collapsed. According to Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, it cannot be restored. Now reverse traffic has been launched on one lane at the crossing. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the terrorist attack.