The ammunition explosion that occurred Tuesday morning at a Russian military base in Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia, was due to an “act of sabotage,” the Russian military said in a statement.
The military depot near Jankoy, in northern Crimea, “was damaged on the morning of August 16 as a result of an act of sabotage,” according to the statement, quoted by Russian news agencies, which, however, did not I appoint those responsible.
“Several civilian infrastructure was also damaged, including a high-voltage line, a power plant, a railway line, as well as several houses,” the Russian military said.
A “demilitarization” operation
According to the Russian military, the fire broke out in a temporary ammunition depot at a Russian base in the Jankoy district, causing an explosion. According to Crimean Governor Sergei Aksionov, who visited the scene, two civilians were injured and the evacuation of the inhabitants of a nearby village was organized.
In response to these explosions, Andriï Iermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, praised on Telegram a “demilitarization operation like a goldsmith’s work by the Ukrainian armed forces”, which according to him will continue “until the complete liberation of the Ukrainian territories”.
“The morning near Djankoy started with explosions,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podoliak said on Twitter.
Territory at the forefront of the conflict
“Crimea in a normal country is the Black Sea, mountains, recreation and tourism. But Russian-occupied Crimea is an explosion of ammunition depots and a high risk of death for invaders and robbers,” he said.
This incident comes a week after an explosion of ammunition intended for military aviation in a depot located on the territory of the Saki military airfield in western Crimea. These explosions left one dead and several injured.
Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed in 2014 by Moscow, has been at the forefront of Russia’s military offensive against its Ukrainian neighbor since February 24. Russian planes take off almost daily from Crimea to strike targets in the regions under Kyiv’s control, and several areas of the peninsula are within range of Ukrainian weapons and drones.
Despite the conflict, Crimea has remained a major vacation spot for many Russians who continue to enjoy summer on its beaches.
Source: BFM TV
