Fires at substations in Crimea: NASA records consequences of night drone attack

On the night of July 8, the Crimea, occupied by Russian troops, once again became the target of Ukrainian drone strikes. As a result of the attack, fires broke out at two important energy facilities on the peninsula. There is no official confirmation from Russian authorities yet, however, satellite monitoring data suggests otherwise.

Satellite monitoring data

The NASA FIRMS service, which tracks fire hotspots worldwide, has recorded two major fires in the territory of Crimea. According to the data received, the fire engulfed the "Nizhnegorskaya" substation and the "NS-3" facility. These incidents occurred almost simultaneously, indicating a coordinated action.

Information about the fires is also confirmed by reports in local Telegram channels, where residents and eyewitnesses share footage of what is happening. RBC-Ukraine, citing these sources, reports that the fires were a direct consequence of the drone attack.

Context of the series of strikes

The attack on the energy infrastructure of Crimea on July 8 is not an isolated event. It is part of an ongoing series of strikes on military and economic objects on the occupied peninsula.

Just a week ago, on the night of July 6, Deep Strike units of the Special Operations Forces struck a Russian "Volganeft" class oil tanker and an oil terminal in the port of Kerch. And on the night of July 5, drones hit the "Gvardeyskoye" airfield, which Russia actively uses for combat flights and logistics. As a result of those strikes, three hangars with aviation equipment were destroyed.

Scale of damage

The list of damaged objects in recent days includes not only energy and port facilities. Near Simferopol, a "Pantsir-S2" anti-aircraft missile system was hit, and a mobile firing group was destroyed in Kerch. In addition, a reservoir and pumping station at the "TES-Terminal-1" oil depot were damaged.

Since the beginning of July, Ukrainian drones have struck 37 energy facilities in Crimea and the Donbas. The consequences of these attacks were so serious that the so-called occupation authorities were forced to acknowledge a total blackout in a number of regions.