According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, the explosions in a Russian military base in Crimea are due to an “act of sabotage”.
The ammunition depot, located in the north of the annexed peninsula, was damaged, as well as civilian infrastructure, including a high-voltage power line, a power plant, a railway line and several houses, the statement said. Who could be behind it, left the explanation open.
According to Russian information, a fire on Tuesday morning at around 5:15 a.m. (CEST) triggered the explosion in the temporary weapons storage facility. According to Crimea Governor Sergey Aksyonov, two civilians were injured and residents of a neighboring village were evacuated.
According to the governor who was at the scene, the detonations continued for three hours after the fire started.
According to media reports, there was also a second explosion on the Crimean peninsula on Tuesday. As the Russian newspaper “Kommersant” reports, black smoke is said to have been sighted over the military base in Hwardijske near Simferopol in the center of the peninsula.
Adviser to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak told Telegram that “in a normal country” Crimea represents sea, mountains, recreation and tourism. “But Russian-held Crimea means exploding ammunition depots and a high risk of death for the invaders and thieves.”
