Russia’s air defence forces and fleet in the Black Sea have shot down nine Ukrainian drones over the Crimean port of Sevastopol, according to a Moscow-installed official. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, said the drone attack took place early on Sunday over the port of Sevastopol and the city’s Balaklava and Khersone districts. One drone was shot down over the sea, five were intercepted by Russia’s electronic warfare forces and two water surface drones were destroyed on the outer shore, he added. Maritime transport, including passenger ferries, was suspended for several hours early on Sunday, authorities said. The port of Sevastopol is very crucial for Russia. Russia's capacity to reach the sea is limited by geography, so ports in the north and south seas, leading to larger waters, are crucial. Sevastopol is a strategically important base for Russia's naval fleet, in addition to being Russia's only warm water base. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a 1997 treaty with Ukraine allowed Russia to keep its Black Sea Fleet intact and lease the base at Sevastopol . This lease will expire in 2042

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