Ukraine war latest: Three Russian ships, MiG-31 aircraft damaged in major overnight strikes on Crimea
Key Points:
- Ukrainian forces conducted a major overnight strike on April 26 targeting Russian military assets in Crimea, damaging three Russian ships, a MiG-31 fighter jet, and radar stations, according to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).
- Ukrainian drones also attacked the Yaroslavl oil refinery and a chemical plant in Vologda Oblast, deep inside Russian territory, causing fires and injuries; Russia reported intercepting over 200 drones across multiple regions during these attacks.
- The U.S. Navy intercepted the Iranian merchant vessel Sevan in the Arabian Sea as part of enforcing sanctions on Iran's "shadow fleet," redirecting it back to Iran under escort amid ongoing U.S. naval blockade efforts.
- German authorities attribute a large-scale phishing campaign targeting high-ranking officials' Signal messaging accounts to Russian state hackers, part of a broader global cyber campaign also affecting WhatsApp users, with investigations ongoing.
- These developments highlight escalating hybrid warfare tactics including drone strikes on critical infrastructure, enforcement of sanctions through naval operations, and intensified cyberattacks linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical tensions.