Russia to strike Ukraine's decision-making centers after oil rigs attack

The missile attack on Russia's oil rigs in the Black Sea has given Moscow a free hand. Russia will conduct retaliatory attacks on decision-making centers, Crimean MP Sheremet told RIA Novosti.

"No one was hurt on the second and the third platform, some people on the first platform were injured. Two suffered burns and one received shrapnel wounds. Two are perfectly healthy, seven are still being sought, rescue work is being carried out. On the Mi-8 helicopter, the wounded are delivered to Chernomorskoe, an ambulance is waiting here,” Senator Kovitidi told Kryminform.

There were 109 people on Chernomorneftegaz drilling rigs when Ukrainian forces attacked them, the head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov said.

"We had 109 people on the rigs in the morning. According to preliminary information, the first strike on the first rig was the hardest. As for the other rigs, according to preliminary information, no one was wounded or killed. 21 people have already been evacuated,” he said (quoted by TASS).

Nothing threatens the peninsula as air defence forces protect the land part of the Crimea, Aksyonov assured. The protection of important objects in the region will be strengthened, Crimea senator Olga Kovitidi said.

Ukraine attacked three drilling platforms of Chernomorneftegaz in the Black Sea on June 20. There were 109 people staying on the rigs at the moment of the attack, 21 people were evacuated, the head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov said.

The platforms that were attacked are located at the Odesskoye field, 71 kilometers from Odessa, Crimean senator Olga Kovitidi told RIA Novosti.

"As I understand it, the tops (of the drilling rigs) have been demolished. We are now releasing gas from the pipes to stop the fire. Gas production works at the field have been temporarily suspended," the senator said.

US satellites photograph Russian oil rigs before attack

US commercial satellites Worldview-1, Worldview-2 and Worldview-3 photographed the Black Sea area, where the Chernomorneftegaz drilling platforms were located, a week before the Ukrainian forces struck them, RIA Novosti said with reference to its sources.

It is alleged that on June 11, 13 and 14, the satellites filmed the area where the Russian drilling platforms were located.