Russians flock to Crimea amidst Ukrainian strikes and US missile support

Anton Heraszczenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, informed on social media that Russians are massively leaving for Crimea to take a break from duties. They are not deterred by the fact that the Ukrainian army attacked a Russian air defence unit.

As reported by Ukrainian Telegram channels, the attack on the occupied Crimean peninsula began on Saturday around 10 PM Greenwich Time. Russian sources claim that the strike was carried out using long-range ATACMS, which were recently provided to Ukraine by the United States.

Ukrainian forces will be able to use a newly delivered, coveted long-range missile system to more effectively target Russian forces in occupied Crimea - reported on Friday by the "New York Times," citing a high-ranking Pentagon official.

Interestingly, despite the explosions, Russians want to rest in Crimea: there has been a huge influx of tourists since the morning of April 28. Anton Heraszczenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, posted the video on social media.

Local Telegram channels report queues for checks at the Taman and Chonhar checkpoints.

Russians are accustomed to celebrating Crimea's Easter holidays (May 5). - Well, Russians love fireworks and salutes - comments Heraszczenko.

Let's remember that the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation of the territory of Ukraine, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, located on the Crimean Peninsula, took place in 2014. Since that moment, more serious tensions between Russia and Ukraine have begun, with an escalation in February 2022.

Ukraine received the version of ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometres. On Wednesday, the US State Department confirmed that the USA had provided Ukraine with a certain number of them in March.

As US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, Ukraine will receive a "significant" number of these missiles. In early April, media reported that Kyiv's target might be the Crimean Bridge.