Ukraine Regains Control Over Black Sea Oil Rigs Once Seized in Crimea’s Annexation

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On Monday, Ukraine’s military announced the retaking of key gas and oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea, originally seized by Russia, and reported advancements in territories near the devastated city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, a location that had previously witnessed the most prolonged and deadly battles of the conflict.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that reclaiming the so-called Boyko Towers not only restores an energy asset lost to Russia in 2015 but also diminishes Russia’s capability to operate helicopters from these platforms.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine noted, “The curtailment of Russia’s full dominance over the Black Sea significantly propels Ukraine closer to the reclamation of Crimea.”

While the Russian Defense Ministry refrained from immediate comments concerning the Ukrainian assertions, it had earlier indicated that Russian aircraft had eliminated several Ukrainian speedboats in the same vicinity.

Russian military commentators suggested that the platforms had been abandoned for over a year. They also claimed that a previous Ukrainian attempt to deploy troops there was short-lived and had come at a substantial cost to Ukraine. However, this could not be independently confirmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains resolute in his commitment to reclaim Crimea—annexed by Russia in 2014—and has called upon global allies to endorse this endeavor.

In related news, as Ukraine reported unconfirmed battlefield advancements, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was en route to Russia to confer with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This summit, as announced by the two nations, could potentially involve discussions about North Korea supplying arms to replenish Russia’s dwindling stockpile.

Last week, U.S. intelligence revealed plans for a Putin-Kim summit this month, suggesting an expansion of bilateral cooperation amid escalating tensions with the United States.

In a separate development, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made an unanticipated visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Baerbock voiced support for Ukraine’s European Union aspirations and emphasized the need for further reforms in the nation. She confirmed that Germany’s total assistance to Ukraine now ranks second only to that of the United States, amounting to 22 billion euros ($23.6 million).

Baerbock highlighted that while Ukraine had made commendable strides in judicial and media reforms, it still needed to make substantial progress in combating corruption.

In the latest military updates, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported advancements in the towns of Klishchiivka and Andriivka, south of Bakhmut, and also indicated that fighting continues near Bakhmut. Ukraine aims to secure a strategic position in Klishchiivka to gain artillery control over Bakhmut.

Furthermore, Ukrainian forces are nearing the capture of Tokmak, a vital logistics and railway hub for Russian troops, situated in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia province, Malyar added.

In other incidents, drones attacked Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of President Zelenskyy, as per Ukrainian sources. However, no immediate damage or casualties were reported.

The recent regain of Black Sea platforms by Ukraine follows reports from the U.K. Ministry of Defense of naval and aerial encounters in the Black Sea two weeks ago.

The U.K. Foreign Office disclosed that on August 24, Russian forces targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel docked at Odesa, following Russia’s July withdrawal from an agreement that allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted the missiles aimed at Odesa, the Foreign Office reported.

U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated, “Russia’s attempts to target international shipping and Ukrainian infrastructure demonstrates its growing desperation.”

Post its extensive invasion 18 months ago, Russia proceeded to annex four Ukrainian provinces—Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia—in September 2022. Russia’s Central Election Commission reported that United Russia, the ruling party, secured a majority in the newly occupied areas and in Crimea.

Contributions to this story were made by AP journalists Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna and Brian Melley in London.

For more coverage on the Ukraine conflict, visit [link omitted].

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More about Ukraine Reclaims Black Sea Platforms

• Ukraine Military Announcement on Black Sea Platforms
• Russia’s Previous Statement on Black Sea Activities
• Statement from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Crimea
• North Korea-Russia Summit Announcement
• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s Visit to Kyiv
• U.K. Foreign Office Statement on Black Sea Incident
• AP Coverage of the Ukraine War