On drilling rigs oil in Black Sea belonging to a Crimean oil company were attacked by the Ukrainians on Monday (20/6) as stated by the governor of the annexed peninsula, without giving details about the weapons used.
“This morning the enemy attacked Tchernomorneftegaz drilling rigs. “I am in contact with our colleagues in the Ministry of Defense and (the Russian intelligence service) FSB, we are trying to save people,” Crimean Governor Sergei Axionov, who was appointed by Moscow after the annexation of the peninsula in 2014, told the Telegram.
For their part, Crimean officials, according to the Athens News Agency quoted by Reuters, AFP and Novayagazeta.europe, said that work on three drilling rigs was halted after the strike, and fires broke out.
Reuters was unable to confirm the reports. The Ukrainian military declined to comment.
Axionov stated that Ukraine hit the platforms at 08.00 (Greek time) when there were 109 employees on them.
“According to the first information, the most critical was the first blow respectively on the first platform. As for the other platforms, based on the first information, there are no injured or dead. “21 people have already been evacuated,” Axionov said, adding that Crimea was supplied with natural gas.
Three workers were injured
According to him, five of the 12 people on the platforms have been rescued, of whom 3 have been injured. Investigations into the others are ongoing.
Chernomorneftegaz was taken over by Russian-backed national gas operator Naftogaz in the hands of Russian-backed officials as part of the annexation of the peninsula by Moscow in 2014. The company is under US and European Union sanctions.
The platforms are located off the southern coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea, 71 km from OdessaRIA Novosti reported, citing Olga Kovitidi, a senator representing Crimea in Russia’s upper house.
Russian officials have expressed concern over statements by the Ukrainian military that they would like to target Crimean infrastructure – such as the Kerch bridge connecting Crimea with Russia– in the context of a Ukrainian counterattack in the south.
Tchernomorneftegaz operates a number of gas and oil fields in the Black and Azov Seas off Crimea.
This is the first blow to offshore drilling infrastructure in Crimea since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Source: News Beast
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
