In significant development from today, Ukrainian forces have attacked drilling platforms in the Black Sea owned by an oil and gas company from the Crimean island annexed to Russia, it was reported today.
Three people were injured, 21 were rescued and a search was carried out for seven employees of the energy company Chernomornetgaz, Crimean Governor Sergei Axionov said in a telegram post. The rigs are about 70 km from Odessa.
According to Ukrainian sources, the attack was carried out using Harpoon missiles made in the US, with a range of 200 km.
Chernomornetgas, which is under Western sanctions, operates several gas and oil fields in the Black Sea and the Moss Sea. This is the first reported attack against Crimean marine energy infrastructure since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24.