Ukrainian Forces Strike Black Sea Platform Used by Russia for GPS Spoofing

On August 10, 2024, the Ukrainian Navy reported a successful strike on a gas platform in the Black Sea that was being used by Russian forces for military purposes. According to a statement from Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the strike was carried out after Russian troops had moved military equipment and personnel onto the platform.

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The Ukrainian Navy confirmed that there were no civilians on the platform at the time of the strike and that it was no longer serving its original function, having been converted into a military installation.

Monitoring channels reported that up to 40 personnel and technical reconnaissance equipment were present on the platform. The Russian forces were reportedly using the platform for GPS spoofing, which posed a threat to the safety of civilian maritime traffic in the Black Sea by distorting GPS signals.

The strike on the platform is part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to diminish the Russian military presence in the Black Sea.