Ukrainian drilling platforms ablaze amid renewed Black Sea conflict
All Ukrainian drilling platforms controlled by Russia, known as Boyko platforms, caught fire in the Black Sea, as reported on Monday by the Crimean Wind channel on Telegram, citing satellite image data.
"All three drilling platforms east of Snake Island have been attacked. Since 24 August, the middle platform has been burning, and from platform number three, a column of smoke is emerging," the statement said.
Ukrainian platforms caught fire in the Black Sea
These drilling platforms, built in 2010 and 2012 off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea and known in Ukraine as Boyko platforms, were seized by Russia in March 2014. Previously, purchasing floating gas extraction platforms sparked public outrage in Ukraine due to possible legal violations and embezzlement of vast amounts of public funds by former energy minister and pro-Russian politician Yuriy Boyko.
In previous months, Ukrainian forces had already carried out attacks on these installations. Russian soldiers were hiding surveillance equipment in the Black Sea used for monitoring the movements of the Ukrainian army.
Authorities in Kyiv regained control of the drilling platforms Petro Hodovanets and Ukraine, as well as Tauryda and Syvash, in September 2023. During these operations, special forces managed to seize ammunition supplies carried by helicopters and a Neva radar, which can track the movement of ships in the Black Sea.
Representative of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) Andriy Yusov explained that after Ukraine regained the platforms, the Russian armed forces lost the capability to conduct surveillance in the air, on water, and on land. In contrast, Ukrainian forces increased their ability to conduct further successful operations in the Black Sea and Crimea.
