Two Dead in Ukrainian Missile Attack, Head of Russia-Annexed Crimea Says 

This photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, May 17, 2024, shows what it claims is destruction of a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea, Crimea. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
This photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, May 17, 2024, shows what it claims is destruction of a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea, Crimea. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
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Two Dead in Ukrainian Missile Attack, Head of Russia-Annexed Crimea Says 

This photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, May 17, 2024, shows what it claims is destruction of a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea, Crimea. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
This photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, May 17, 2024, shows what it claims is destruction of a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea, Crimea. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

The head of the Russia-annexed Crimea peninsula said a Ukrainian missile attack killed two people near Simferopol, the peninsula's main administrative center.

Sergei Aksyonov, writing on Telegram, also said a Ukrainian missile had struck an empty building near Alushta on the peninsula's Black Sea coast.

Separately, the TASS news agency cited Russia's defense ministry as saying that air defenses had intercepted three ATACMS missiles over Crimea, and that the military had destroyed three Ukrainian sea drones headed toward the peninsula.

Ukraine has not issued an official comment.

Ukrainian military bloggers and unofficial media reported a number of targets had been hit throughout the peninsula.

Krymsky Veter, an online news outlet dealing with Crimea, posted a video of what it described as an explosion and fire in Alushta, and said ambulances were heading to the scene.

News outlet RBK-Ukraine reported, without citing a source, that explosions had occurred in three other centers and said targets could have included headquarters for the coastguard or intelligence centers.

Russian bloggers on the peninsula said they believed that not all incoming missiles had been intercepted.



Kremlin: Putin Would Welcome Trump's Desire for Contacts, But So Far There Have Been No Requests

People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
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Kremlin: Putin Would Welcome Trump's Desire for Contacts, But So Far There Have Been No Requests

People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome US President-elect Donald Trump's desire for contacts, but so far there have been no requests for contact.
It would be more appropriate to wait for Trump to take office first, Peskov said.