Russia said Thursday it had defeated an attempted landing by Ukrainian special forces on the Tendra Spit sandbar in the Black Sea held by Russian troops, killing "up to 25" Ukrainian personnel.
"Russian forces... destroyed a Ukrainian commando group.... trying to land on speedboats," the Defense Ministry said in its daily update.
It said that one Ukrainian serviceman had been taken prisoner in the operation and four boats captured, while a fifth vessel got away.
Ukrainian special forces said in a statement that some of its personnel had "heroically died in a combat mission," without giving details.
The statement also said most of the group "withdrew" after carrying out "a special mission."
Ukrainian forces have been trying for months to cross the Dnipro River to the part of the Kherson region that is occupied by Russian forces.
Ukrainian forces have managed to secure a bridgehead around the village of Krynky further to north from the attempted landing but attempts to move further have been fought off.
Putin said earlier this month that the Russian army had taken back control over Krynky but the Ukrainian authorities have denied this.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
