Russia claims Ukraine conducted failed strikes in Rostov, Kaluga, Crimea

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Monday claimed that Ukraine attempted to strike targets in the Rostov and Kaluga regions, as well as the Crimean Peninsula which it illegally annexed in 2014.

“On July 9, the Kyiv regime made an unsuccessful attempt to strike targets in the Crimea, Rostov, and Kaluga regions with S-200 anti-aircraft missiles, converted into a strike version, in order to destroy ground targets,” a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram.

The statement said Valery Gerasimov, the Russian chief of general staff, received a report from the chief of General Staff of the Aerospace Forces, Col-Gen. Viktor Afzalov, on the alleged downing of four Ukrainian missiles.

Two S-200 missiles were destroyed by air defense systems, and two more similar missiles were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, Afzalov said, according to the statement.

He further said that there were no casualties or destruction caused by the downing of the missiles.

The statement also said that Gerasimov instructed the forces to take additional preventive measures and improve the protection of facilities from air strikes.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the claim, and independent verification of Russia's claims is difficult due to the ongoing war.