Major fire breaks out in Kerch after drone strike, day 1580 of war in Ukraine

On day 1580 of Ukraine's war, a drone strike hit the city of Kerch in Crimea, followed by a major fire. The war has lasted since 24 February 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Fighting is concentrated mainly in eastern and southern Ukraine.

A major fire broke out in the city of Kerch on the Crimean peninsula on 21 June 2026 after the city came under drone attack. This represents one of the notable incidents on day 1580 of Ukraine's war.

Course of the war

Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. After Ukraine's armed forces successfully repelled Russian offensive operations against Kyiv, the focus of hostilities shifted to eastern and southern Ukraine, where fighting continues to this day.

Drone strike on Kerch

Kerch is a strategically important city at the eastern tip of Crimea, located on the shore of the Strait of Kerch. The city has previously been a target of Ukrainian long-range weapons, as it hosts important infrastructure and is connected to Russia's logistical network on the peninsula. The extent of the fire that spread following the drone strike suggests the strike hit a sensitive area.

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes deep into Russian-controlled territory in recent months, including Crimea, with the aim of disrupting enemy supply lines and military infrastructure.