A major fire broke out at a Russian ammunition depot near the village of Perevalne in Russian occupied Crimea after a series of explosions early on 16 May, reportedly caused by a Ukrainian drone attack. According to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, which cited local witnesses, the depot lies near the 126th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Following the attack, the road between Simferopol and Alushta was closed by Russian-installed occupation authorities. Multiple plumes of smoke were seen rising from different areas across Crimea, including near the Belbek and Kacha airfields in Sevastopol, Cape Fiolent, Balaklava and Bakhchysarai.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed puppet head of Sevastopol, claimed that six drones were shot down over the peninsula and insisted there were no casualties or damage. However, he admitted the loud explosions heard in the city were “the work of our soldiers,” a vague remark likely intended to deflect attention from Ukraine’s increasing success in targeting strategic Russian positions.
Ukraine has not formally acknowledged the strike, and the claims remain unverified by independent sources. Still, the incident marks yet another successful blow to Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea, part of Ukraine’s broader effort to weaken the Russian Black Sea Fleet and reclaim the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force lost contact with an F-16 fighter jet during an operation to repel a Russian aerial assault the same night. The pilot managed to safely eject after diverting the aircraft away from populated areas. Preliminary reports suggest the pilot had destroyed three Russian aerial targets and was engaging a fourth before the incident. His condition is stable and he has been safely recovered.
The F-16s, supplied by the Netherlands and Denmark in 2024, have become a critical part of Ukraine’s air defences. One F-16 had already been lost in a crash last August, with another downed in April, both resulting in pilot deaths.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry also unveiled new combat-proven Mura naval drones. These domestically designed unmanned surface vessels have already destroyed or damaged at least 17 Russian targets, including Su-30 fighter jets, Mi-8 helicopters, and large warships such as the Sergey Kotov and Caesar Kunikov.
Capable of travelling over 800 kilometres at high speeds and delivering powerful explosive payloads, these Mura drones are redefining naval warfare. With stealthy designs, precision navigation, and the ability to operate in swarms, the drones give Ukraine an edge in maritime battles, forcing the Russian dictator’s forces to rethink their Black Sea defences.
On the international front, the United Kingdom and Germany announced a new joint project to develop a long-range precision missile system with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometres. The initiative, part of the Trinity House Agreement, aims to strengthen NATO’s deterrence capabilities and stimulate economic growth through defence collaboration. The system will enhance European security and boost local defence industries, with additional programmes including joint procurement of Stingray torpedoes and advanced British military bridges.
