The Russian Defense Ministry warned that it would respond accordingly.
The warning came as Russia announced that its air defenses had shot down two missiles flying over the Crimean bridge.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian authorities tried to attack the Crimean bridge with S-200 air defense guided missiles. The Ukrainian missile was detected and intercepted by Russian air defense systems.
Russian officials also said that the task force had activated a smoke screen to protect the bridge.
A video circulating on Russian social media on 12 August showed the entrance to the Crimea bridge surrounded by smoke. Photo: RT
Connected reuters Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was said to have been suspended but rejoined shortly afterwards. Russian officials confirmed that there were no casualties in the attack and that there was no damage to the Crimea bridge.
A video circulated on Russian social media on 12 August showed the bridge engulfed in smoke. However, the firm reuters Unable to verify authenticity of video.
The Ukrainian side has almost never publicly claimed responsibility for such attacks. But Ukraine says it is important to destroy Russia’s military infrastructure in a retaliatory strike.
Earlier the same day, Russia reported that its military had shot down 20 Ukrainian drones near Crimea.
Ukrainian soldiers in southern Ukraine. Photo: New York Times
Also on 12 August, Ukrainian military officials stated that they had made some progress on the southern front, including the capture of (unspecified) areas and a partial victory near the key village of Robotyn.
The commander of Ukrainian forces in the south, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, wrote on a telegram: “There are areas liberated. Defense forces are working.”
Mr Tarnavsky did not say where the Ukrainian army struck. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it had “partially succeeded in the Robotyn area of Zaporizhia region”.
The General Staff of Ukraine noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces continued offensive operations in the direction of Melitopol and Berdyansk.
