Russian-appointed officials in Crimea said that explosions were heard near the bridge which links the Russian mainland to the annexed region early on Saturday (August 5), stating that the blasts were related to a Ukrainian drone attack carried out on a Russian tanker. 
 
Russia's sea rescue service, which is present in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, stated that they had dispatched tugboats to assist the tanker, which suffered damages and was not able to operate on its own. 
 
"We can say that the tanker is damaged in the (Kerch) strait, only on the south side," the rescue centre was quoted as saying by Russia's Tass news agency. "They will deal with it now on whether to take it under tow or not. It is standing at anchor for the moment. The machine room suffered some damage, not too badly,” it added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-thwart-ukrainian-attacks-on-naval-base-in-black-sea-crimean-peninsula-622251">Russia claims it thwarted Ukrainian attacks on naval base in Black Sea, Crimean peninsula</a>

A Russian warship suffered serious damage in Ukraine's overnight naval drone attack on Russia's navy base at Novorossiysk. This marked the first time the Ukrainian navy tried to project its powers beyond the shores of the country. 
 
Russia-installed officials in Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, stated that the latest explosions were not related to the bridge, which has twice come under attack in the 17-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine. 
 
Ukraine, which rarely gives comments on attacks carried out on Russian targets, did not give any official statement on the incident. For some time, the officials halted the traffic on the bridge which was the third such stop imposed in the last 24 hours, but later resumed. 
 
"Once again, there was no direct attack on the Crimea bridge and there was no explosion in the immediate vicinity," said Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, as quoted by Russian news agencies.

<h2>Shattered equipment and fixtures after explosions</h2>

Meanwhile, Ukraine's UNIAN news agency stated that three explosions were reported in the area. Pro-Russian officials and Ukrainian news reports in occupied parts of Ukraine stated that a tanker vessel, which was operating under a Russian flag and in the Kerch Strait and was identified as the SIG, was attacked by Ukrainian drones.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas | Ukraine War: Poland rushes troops to its border with Belarus | Is the war expanding?

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Russian-appointed official in Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov shared an audio clip in which the vessel sent a request to tugboats for towing the tanker. Rogov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, shared pictures of what he said was shattered equipment and fixtures inside the vessels. 
 
He said that the ship was supplying oil to Russian troops in Syria. The bridge, which was completed by Russia in 2018, four years after the peninsula was annexed by Moscow from Ukraine, has been subjected to two major attacks since Russia invaded Ukraine, the most recent one occurred last month.
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos
</div>

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russian-appointed officials in Crimea said that explosions were heard near the bridge which links the Russian mainland to the annexed region early on Saturday (August 5), stating that the blasts were related to a Ukrainian drone attack carried out on a Russian tanker.

Russian-appointed officials in Crimea said that explosions were heard near the bridge which links the Russian mainland to the annexed region early on Saturday (August 5), stating that the blasts were related to a Ukrainian drone attack carried out on a Russian tanker. Russia's sea rescue service, which is present in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, stated that they had dispatched tugboats to assist the tanker, which suffered damages and was not able to operate on its own. "We can say that the tanker is damaged in the (Kerch) strait, only on the south side," the rescue centre was quoted as saying by Russia's Tass news agency. "They will deal with it now on whether to take it under tow or not. It is standing at anchor for the moment. The machine room suffered some damage, not too badly,” it added. ALSO READ | Russia claims it thwarted Ukrainian attacks on naval base in Black Sea, Crimean peninsula A Russian warship suffered serious damage in Ukraine's overnight naval drone attack on Russia's navy base at Novorossiysk. This marked the first time the Ukrainian navy tried to project its powers beyond the shores of the country. Russia-installed officials in Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, stated that the latest explosions were not related to the bridge, which has twice come under attack in the 17-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine, which rarely gives comments on attacks carried out on Russian targets, did not give any official statement on the incident. For some time, the officials halted the traffic on the bridge which was the third such stop imposed in the last 24 hours, but later resumed. "Once again, there was no direct attack on the Crimea bridge and there was no explosion in the immediate vicinity," said Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, as quoted by Russian news agencies. Shattered equipment and fixtures after explosions Meanwhile, Ukraine's UNIAN news agency stated that three explosions were reported in the area. Pro-Russian officials and Ukrainian news reports in occupied parts of Ukraine stated that a tanker vessel, which was operating under a Russian flag and in the Kerch Strait and was identified as the SIG, was attacked by Ukrainian drones. WATCH | Gravitas | Ukraine War: Poland rushes troops to its border with Belarus | Is the war expanding? Russian-appointed official in Ukraine's southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov shared an audio clip in which the vessel sent a request to tugboats for towing the tanker. Rogov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, shared pictures of what he said was shattered equipment and fixtures inside the vessels. He said that the ship was supplying oil to Russian troops in Syria. The bridge, which was completed by Russia in 2018, four years after the peninsula was annexed by Moscow from Ukraine, has been subjected to two major attacks since Russia invaded Ukraine, the most recent one occurred last month. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explosions in Crimea, Russian tanker hit in Ukrainian drone attack, claim officials

A Ukrainian court has ordered the seizure of a Russian tanker. Ukrainian authorities said that the tanker was used in a Russian operation to block Ukrainian vessels from sailing through the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in November last year.

Ukraine seizes Russian tanker, releases crew members

Ukraine-Russia tensions: Ukraine court orders seizure of Russian tanker

Ukraine on Thursday seized a Russian tanker for its alleged involvement in the capture of three <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-walks-out-of-europe-rights-body-as-russia-returns-230295">Ukrainian navy vessels by Russia</a>, prompting Moscow to warn of consequences if any Russian citizens were "taken hostage".

The crew members were later freed by Ukraine and were on their way home, but the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-objects-to-ukraine-sea-dispute-case-in-the-hague-226002">tanker remained in Ukrainian</a> custody in the Danube river port of Izmail, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Kiev said by telephone.

The seizure threatens to upset delicate negotiations on a possible prisoner swap between the two countries and came weeks after Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's new president, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time.

The incident is also certain to further sour relations between Kiev and Moscow, which remain blighted by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its backing for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian prosecutor's office said 10 Russian crew were detained for questioning. Russian news agencies said around 15 Russians had been on board at the time of the seizure.

Ukraine's security service alleged that the tanker, the "Nika Spirit", used to be called "NEYMA" and was placed beneath a bridge near Crimea in November in order to block three Ukrainian navy ships from entering the Sea of Azov.

Russia seized the Ukrainian ships after opening fire on them and is still holding 24 Ukrainian sailors who were on board at the time, accusing them of illegally entering its territorial waters, a charge they deny.

"The Ukrainian security service and military prosecutors' office detained a Russian tanker, the Neyma, which blocked Ukrainian warships in the Kerch Strait," Ukraine's SBU security service said in a statement.

The SBU published footage of the tanker being searched. It showed two crew members, introduced as the captain and a senior crew member. They were not handcuffed and their faces were blurred.

The same footage showed the name of the detained ship, the Nika Spirit, on the vessel's bow next to a darker patch of paint that apparently covered up its old name. Two men in camouflaged uniforms with Ukrainian insignia were shown walking through the Russian-flagged vessel.

Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Ukraine "there will soon be consequences" if any Russian crew members were "taken hostage", the RIA news agency reported.

The SBU said the Russian vessel had entered Ukraine under its new name, the Nika Spirit, "to cover its involvement in illegal actions", but that it had identified the ship from its unique International Maritime Organization number (IMO).

"The above named vessel is considered to be a piece of material evidence, (and) a petition to a court for its seizure is being prepared," the security service said in its statement.

The Ukrainian president's office and the foreign ministry declined to comment.

In Moscow, senior Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov described Ukraine's actions as "absolutely illegal" and detrimental to relations between the two countries, RIA said.

In Kiev, Ukraine's ombudswoman said negotiations on the release of the 24 Ukrainian sailors being held by Russia from the November incident had intensified after Russian and Ukrainian leaders spoke by phone earlier this month.

Ukraine on Thursday seized a Russian tanker for its alleged involvement in the capture of three Ukrainian navy vessels by Russia, prompting Moscow to warn of consequences if any Russian citizens were "taken hostage".

Ukraine on Thursday seized a Russian tanker for its alleged involvement in the capture of three Ukrainian navy vessels by Russia, prompting Moscow to warn of consequences if any Russian citizens were "taken hostage". The crew members were later freed by Ukraine and were on their way home, but the tanker remained in Ukrainian custody in the Danube river port of Izmail, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Kiev said by telephone. The seizure threatens to upset delicate negotiations on a possible prisoner swap between the two countries and came weeks after Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's new president, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. The incident is also certain to further sour relations between Kiev and Moscow, which remain blighted by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its backing for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office said 10 Russian crew were detained for questioning. Russian news agencies said around 15 Russians had been on board at the time of the seizure. Ukraine's security service alleged that the tanker, the "Nika Spirit", used to be called "NEYMA" and was placed beneath a bridge near Crimea in November in order to block three Ukrainian navy ships from entering the Sea of Azov. Russia seized the Ukrainian ships after opening fire on them and is still holding 24 Ukrainian sailors who were on board at the time, accusing them of illegally entering its territorial waters, a charge they deny. "The Ukrainian security service and military prosecutors' office detained a Russian tanker, the Neyma, which blocked Ukrainian warships in the Kerch Strait," Ukraine's SBU security service said in a statement. The SBU published footage of the tanker being searched. It showed two crew members, introduced as the captain and a senior crew member. They were not handcuffed and their faces were blurred. The same footage showed the name of the detained ship, the Nika Spirit, on the vessel's bow next to a darker patch of paint that apparently covered up its old name. Two men in camouflaged uniforms with Ukrainian insignia were shown walking through the Russian-flagged vessel. Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Ukraine "there will soon be consequences" if any Russian crew members were "taken hostage", the RIA news agency reported. The SBU said the Russian vessel had entered Ukraine under its new name, the Nika Spirit, "to cover its involvement in illegal actions", but that it had identified the ship from its unique International Maritime Organization number (IMO). "The above named vessel is considered to be a piece of material evidence, (and) a petition to a court for its seizure is being prepared," the security service said in its statement. The Ukrainian president's office and the foreign ministry declined to comment. In Moscow, senior Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov described Ukraine's actions as "absolutely illegal" and detrimental to relations between the two countries, RIA said. In Kiev, Ukraine's ombudswoman said negotiations on the release of the 24 Ukrainian sailors being held by Russia from the November incident had intensified after Russian and Ukrainian leaders spoke by phone earlier this month.

Ukraine seizes Russian tanker, frees crew after Moscow warns of 'consequences'

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Explosions in Crimea, Russian tanker hit in Ukrainian drone attack, claim officials

Ukraine seizes Russian tanker, releases crew members

Ukraine-Russia tensions: Ukraine court orders seizure of Russian tanker

Ukraine seizes Russian tanker, frees crew after Moscow warns of 'consequences'