Free Republic

A huge storm in the Black Sea has wrecked Russian defences in Crimea and devastated Sochi, an important port city on Russia’s wester coast. Trenches, coastal barriers and firing position were washed away from Yevpatoriya, on the western coast of Crimea, close to Sevastopol. Local reports said winds gusted up to 80mph, with waves of up to 30ft. Meanwhile in Sochi, Russia’s largest resort city, similar scenes played out. Footage showed huge waves washing ashore, damaging buildings and inundating promenades along the sea front. Crimea’s west coast is an important front in Russia’s war with Ukraine and was vulnerable to...

Russian missile attacks hit critical infrastructure in Kyiv and the eastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday morning, officials said, and the governor of another region warned that a massive missile strike could follow in the coming hours. Reuters journalists heard a series of blasts in Kyiv before the air raid siren even sounded, which is highly unusual. Officials told residents to stay in shelters. “Explosions in Dniprovskiy district. All agencies heading to the site. Stay in your shelters!” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.