The target is the Tavrida oil rig - a hot spot of dispute between the two sides in the fight to regain control of the strategic Black Sea.
According to pro-Russian sources, the attack took place on June 9, carried out by a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber, using a Soviet anti-ship missile Kh-22. This is a type of missile that has caused a lot of damage to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, especially in long-range attacks on civilian and military infrastructure.
The Tavrida drilling rig, which has been controlled by Russia since 2015 after the capture of Crimea, was re-occupied by Ukraine in 2023. Its location, near the Dragon Island - which has seen fierce fighting - makes the drilling rig an ideal transit point for military operations, at least according to Russian officials.
Russian military bloggers say Ukraine has turned Tavrida into a "floating foothold" for the Defense Intelligence Service of Ukraine (GUR) to deploy drones, fuel drones and install electronic warfare systems. However, General Kyrylo Budanov - leader of GUR - denied these allegations, only saying: "We use the checkpoints and defenses for other reasons" but did not disclose further details.
Mr. Budanov also confirmed that the drilling rig was attacked more than 10 times by Kh-22 and Kh-59 missiles. In the latest video, a powerful explosion occurred right next to the drilling rig base, creating a large fire pole but the actual extent of damage was unknown.
A photo provided by Ukraine shows that the main structure of the drilling rig was still standing firm after the attack.
Notably, the airstrike took place just days after Ukraine announced a UAV attack on the base where Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were parked, an unprecedented action, demonstrating Kiev's extensive tactical escalation.
It is not yet clear whether the drilling rig is equipped with an air defense system or not, but according to experts, intercepting Kh-22 missiles is extremely difficult, even with modern systems provided by the West.
While details continue to be clarified, this attack further shows that the drilling rig in the middle of the ocean is not only a facility for exploiting resources, but is becoming a "floating aircraft carrier" for modern warfare, where technology, strategy and control of the sea space intersect in deadly silence.
