British intelligence has revealed that battles are taking place between Ukrainian and Russian naval and aerial forces for strategically important gas and oil platforms in the Black Sea between Crimea and Odessa, known as the Boyko Towers.
This information is part of the intelligence summary from the British Ministry of Defence dated August 27.
The report notes that these platforms not only "control valuable hydrocarbon resources," but "like Snake Island to the west, they can also be used as forward deployment bases, helicopter landing sites, and to position long-range missile systems".
Intelligence reminded that last week a Russian combat aircraft attacked a Ukrainian military small boat located in the vicinity of the Boyko Towers in the northwest of the sea.
"Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has struck several Russian-controlled platforms. Both Russia and Ukraine have also periodically occupied them with troops," the summary states.
It's worth noting that the so-called Boyko Towers were captured by Russia during the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
