Russia is actively preparing for the defense of the Crimean peninsula; in particular, it is creating strategic areas in the north of the Dzhankoy district. Andrii Chernyak, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

Andriy Chernyak noted that Ukraine's military intelligence does not record invaders' evacuation from the north of the Crimean peninsula.

"However, we see that they are actively preparing for defense. They are creating a defensive line both on the left bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region and on the administrative border with Crimea in the north of the peninsula. In particular, two strategic areas are being built in the northern part of the Dzhankoy district. It is very important for them because as a result of the counteroffensive of Ukrainian forces, the north of Crimea will be the zone of damage of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Andrii Chernyak noted.

Speaking about the evacuation of Russians and collaborators from Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia, the representative of military intelligence, noted that most of them were trying to get not to Crimea but to the territory of Russia.

"Even they understand that one way or another, Crimea will be lost to Russia and will return to Ukraine," emphasized Andriy Chernyak.

He also added that the invaders in Crimea are trying to keep ships of the Black Sea Fleet, and military equipment under constant cover of air defense systems, particularly ground systems.

"They hope that this will at least somehow save them from smoking in prohibited places and non-compliance with safety rules," said the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.