War in Ukraine: Multiple explosions hit two strategic air bases in Russia

Several explosions hit two Russian airbases on Monday, according to Russian media. One of the explosions allegedly took place at a base where there are nuclear bombers who have been involved in attacks on Ukraine.

Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian authorities they made comments initially on the possible cause of the detonations.

three soldiers diedsix were injured and one aircraft was damaged when a fuel truck exploded at an air base in Ryazan in western Russia, according to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti. At the base there is long-range fuel aircraft which allow bombers to be refueled in flight.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Saratov region along the Volga River said they were investigating reports of an explosion in the area of Engels Air Base, where there is strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-160 who have been involved in attacks on Ukraine. those bombers They can carry nuclear weapons.

Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin said there was no damage to civilian facilities, adding that authorities are investigating whether there were any incidents at military facilities.

The regional media reported it a strong explosion near the Engels base and cited some residents who said they saw a flash of light from the area.

Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the explosion at Engels base, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said simply that the president received regular briefings about events.

War front and embargo

In Ukraine, President Volodimir Zelensky’s office said on Monday that three rockets hit his hometown of Kryvyi Rih in the south-central part of the country, killing one worker and injuring three others. In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, one person was killed in S-300 rocket attacks on civilian infrastructure in the city of Kupyansk.

The war started with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th it displaced millions of people from their homes, killing and wounding untold numbers of civilians and shaking the global economy, especially through its effect on the prices and availability of food, fertilizer and fuel, crucial exports from Ukraine and Russia.

Several Western countries started imposing on Monday a price limit of $60 a barrel for Russian crude and vetoed some varieties, as part of new measures to increase pressure on Moscow for war.

The decision was rejected by the Kremlin and criticized by Zelensky, whose government I wanted to halve the price.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, responsible for energy affairs, warned in televised statements on Sunday that Russia it will not sell its oil to countries attempting to use the price cap.

“We only sell oil and petroleum products to countries that work with us. at a safe distancealthough we will have to reduce production to some extent,” Novak said in televised statements hours before the measure went into effect.

The blockade of the 27 European countries was also imposed an embargo on Russian crude shipped by sea.

Russia, the second largest producer of crude oil in the world, depends on the sale of gas and oil to maintain its economy, already suffocated by heavy international sanctions due to Putin’s war in Ukraine.

In recent weeks, Russia has attacked Ukrainian infrastructure, including power plants, and is continuing an offensive in the east, especially in and around the city of Bakhmut.

Russian forces also gained a foothold near the southern city of Khersonrecaptured by Ukrainian forces last month after eight months of occupation.

Associated press

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