Russia: On Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that a “detonation of aviation ammunition” stirred an explosion at a military base in Crimea, according to many eyewitnesses in the area.
According to the RIA Novosti news agency, the authorities noted that contrary to rumours and other reports, the incident was neither an attack nor premeditated and there were no confined damages or casualties.
Reuters reported that earlier loud booms were heard from the Russian military airbase situated at Novofedorivka in Crimea. This was one of the several army bases that were established by Russia and the area was part of the annexed peninsula, held by the Russian forces.
The incident was reported on social media platforms as videos and eyewitness accounts of black smoke rising from the base, quickly circulated online.
Russian tourists holidaying on nearby beaches were seen leaving in fear. It is one of the few occasions when the peninsula, occupied by Russia since 2014, has been directly affected by the latest fighting. Locals told a Russian news website that the explosions lasted for an hour.
As per Reuters, the eyewitnesses heard 12 booms within a minute. There were three other blasts half an hour later and sirens were heard in the nearby town of Saky.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Crimean governor appointed by the Kremlin, posted on Telegram noting his recent visit to the base after the explosions, revealing that the “circumstances are being clarified”.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi did not say who was behind the attacks in a late-night speech, but vowed to “liberate” Crimea, saying, “This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe started with Crimea and must end with Crimea – with its liberation.”
“Russia has turned our peninsula, which has always been and will be one of the best places in Europe, into one of the most dangerous places in Europe. But let’s return to the Ukrainian Crimea. From Kharkiv Oblast to Kherson, from Donetsk to Enerhodar, from Stanytsa Luhansk to Yalta, from Berdyansk to Novofedorivka – these are all parts of our country, this is Ukraine, which will be completely free.”
Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: Witnesses Recall Explosions at the Crimean Air Base
