In a recent development, Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a successful attack on a Russian command center located in the occupied region of Crimea. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, they targeted and destroyed the Saki air field in western Crimea, which has been illegally controlled by Russia since 2014.

The Ukrainian government advisor, Anton Gerashchenko, confirmed the attack and stated that the Ukrainian Air Force is systematically working towards dismantling the occupiers' control system in Crimea. Gerashchenko emphasized that over the past few days, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have carried out multiple successful strikes on enemy targets in the still-occupied region.

The Saki air base, known as the home to the 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces, plays a significant role in supporting Russian troops in the area. Equipped with Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, the base also hosts the Nitka training complex for training deck aviation flight crews.

This is not the first time Ukraine has targeted the Saki airfield. Back in 2022, they conducted a successful attack, destroying several Russian aircraft and causing substantial damage. It appears that the Ukrainian forces are intensifying their efforts to undermine the Russian presence in Crimea.

In response to the ongoing conflict, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its defenses intercepted a total of 36 drones over Crimea on Friday, as well as one over Krasnodar in southern Russia.

Tragically, in a separate incident, a Russian missile strike occurred in the eastern Donetsk region, specifically in the city of Pokrovsk. Vadym Filashkin, the governor of the Ukrainian-controlled part of the region, reported that at least 11 people, including five children, lost their lives in the attack. The consequences of this strike highlight the devastating toll the conflict has taken on innocent civilians.

Additionally, the prosecutor's office in Ukraine's Kharkiv region presented new evidence suggesting that Russia has been using missiles supplied by North Korea in its attacks on Ukraine. Fragments of the missiles were shown, supporting previous claims made by a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The United States National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, had also previously indicated that North Korean missiles had been utilized by the Kremlin in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, in Russia, the city of Belgorod, which has faced heavy attacks in recent weeks, decided to cancel midnight masses for Russian Orthodox Christmas, which is set to begin on Saturday night. The cancellation highlights the tense and volatile situation the region is currently facing.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, the latest attack by Ukrainian forces on the Russian command center in occupied Crimea further intensifies tensions. The international community closely watches the developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.