- [Reporter] Explosions and fires in Crimea
have destroyed military equipment, frightened beach goers,
and prompted thousands of residents to evacuate to Russia.
After more than eight years under Moscow's control,
scenes of war have returned to Crimea.
(speaking foreign language)
- [Reporter] For several recent incidents,
Ukraine hasn't claimed responsibility,
but Russia's operations have been seriously disrupted
as Ukraine increasingly focuses on striking facilities
and supplies behind Russian lines.
- Actually, what they're doing is part of a broader strategy
which is to try to squeeze the Russians
out of the south of the country.
- [Reporter] So as the war enters a new phase
and President Zelensky vows to take back the territory
at the heart of Russia's operations,
here's why Crimea has emerged as an important battleground.
Russia's military seized Crimea,
which is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory,
in 2014.
Since then, Moscow has built military bases
and weapons stores on the peninsula.
(speaking foreign language)
- [Reporter] When Russia invaded Ukraine in late February,
those hubs became important locations
from where Moscow could deploy forces and top up supplies.
- In the early days of the war, Crimea was used
as a jump off point for Russia's military.
- [Reporter] Russia's initial strategy
was a multi-directional invasion
with the goal of capture and keep, but after that failed,
fighting shifted to Eastern and Southern Ukraine.
- Since then, it's Crimea that's been kind of a rear base
for Russian armed forces who are occupying
the south of Ukraine.
Ukraine is now attempting to push those forces out.
(explosion booming)
- [Reporter] Since taking control of parts
of Eastern Ukraine in July,
Russia's forces have appeared to slow down
and Ukraine has repeatedly hit occupied areas
with targeted strikes on key infrastructure
that was being used by the invaders.
- Ukraine, it thinks it can't take the Russians on
in a tank battle.
So they're being clever about it.
Their aim is to degrade the Russians.
The Ukrainian official said to me,
it's like 1,000 stings from a bee
in order to disable Russian capabilities,
their ability to wage war and demoralize them
and force them to withdraw.
- [Reporter] Crimea is now key to that strategy.
A blast at a Russian airbase on August 9th
destroyed several war planes,
according to Western intelligence officials.
And as seen in these satellite images
that contradicted Moscow's claim
that no war planes were lost.
Russia blamed an ammunition explosion,
and Ukraine didn't take responsibility for the damage.
But the blast had consequences.
Russia relocated some planes and aircraft to its mainland,
according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
A week after the airbase was hit,
explosions at an ammunition depot damaged rail tracks
and power lines, complicating Russia's efforts
to transport ammunition and other supplies.
Ukrainian officials said the attack was indeed Ukrainian,
and Russian officials blamed saboteurs
in their first official acknowledgement
of a major attack on the peninsula.
Still, that doesn't necessarily mean Ukraine
is about to retake Crimea.
- Certainly Crimea eventually is a target,
but the Ukrainians are going about it very methodically,
piece by piece.
- [Reporter] Russian diplomats didn't respond to a request
for comment about the effects of what's happening in Crimea
on Moscow's campaign.
But as a new phase starts in the conflict,
the peninsula is at the center of Ukraine's efforts
to show that it can damage Russia's army
where it didn't expect it.