After an overnight "operation," Ukraine flies its flag over Crimea.

 On August 24, 2023, in the midst of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi speaks with service members at a ceremony commemorating Ukraine's Independence Day in Kyiv. (Image courtesy of SERGEI CHUZAVKOV/AFP)

On Independence Day, Ukraine stated on Thursday that it had carried out a "special joint operation" with its Navy on the Crimean peninsula, which Russia has occupied.

Kiev has made it clear time and time again that it wants to regain control of Crimea, which is recognized internationally as being a part of Ukraine but has been under Russian rule since Moscow's forces took it in 2014.

Ukraine's GUR intelligence agency said in a statement that its special forces "engaged in combat" after landing on Crimea's western shore close to the villages of Olenivka and Mayak.

The enemy suffered troop losses and equipment destruction as a result, it added, adding that the "state flag flew again in the Ukrainian Crimea."

Since Moscow's invasion began, Ukraine has attacked the peninsula numerous times and has used the phrase "temporarily occupied" in its pronouncements.

In that region, Kiev said on Wednesday that it had destroyed a potent Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system that had dealt a "painful blow" to the adversary's air defenses.

The Russian-built Crimean bridge, which has been closed as a result of numerous mishaps, including a significant explosion in October of last year, has also been accused of being attacked by Ukraine by Moscow. AFP