Five killed defusing explosive device in Sevastopol after drone attack

Five people were killed while attempting to defuse an explosive device in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-controlled Crimea, according to regional governor Mikhail Razvozhayev. The group, comprising four emergency service bomb disposal specialists and a security guard, was conducting clearance operations after a Ukrainian drone attack on the city when the explosion occurred.

Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified aerial attacks amid the ongoing conflict. Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its air defense units intercepted 362 Ukrainian drones overnight across various Russian and Russian-controlled territories, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Separately, a Russian military officer was killed on Thursday in what authorities described as an assassination in Sevastopol. Governor Razvozhayev stated that a woman was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack on behalf of Ukrainian special services. The FSB security service identified the suspect as a Russian national. Russia has previously accused Ukraine of similar assassinations.

Earlier reports indicated a single man was killed by an explosive device in Sevastopol. Unconfirmed information suggested the victim might have been Robert Shageev, a former Ukrainian Navy officer who defected to Russia in 2014. Ukraine has not officially commented on the incident. Explosions have become common in Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities, often targeting collaborators or Russian military assets. Recent incidents in Russia have also targeted high-ranking military officials.