One person dead after blasts rocked a military base in Crimea, says the head of the Russian-appointed administration.
According to Sergei Aksyonov, the blasts took place at the Saky military base near Novofedorivka, west coast of Crimea. Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media show multiple blasts.
The Russian defense Ministry claims that ammunition had detonated, but nobody has confirmed it so far. According to Ria Novosti, the ministry also claimed that the blast had little impact on the ammunition storage area.
The Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, is a popular destination for Russian tourists. A video appeared on social media showing visitors running away from a beach after smoke rose in the background.
Local witnesses told Reuters that they heard at least 12 blasts. Soon after Sergei Aksyonov arrived In the area and said they have created a 5 km “no-go area” around the blast site.
Ukraine not Responsible for the Blast: Kyiv
Soon Ukrainian Presidential advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak came on Ukrainian television and declared Kyiv was not responsible for the blasts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky devoted his nighttime video to Crimea.
“Crimea is Ukrainian and we will never give it up. The war began with Crimea and must end with Crimea-with its liberation,” he said. Zelensky, however, did not say anything about the blast.
Russia annexed it in 2014 after a hastily organized referendum voted in its favor. Most of the internal community sees the referendum as illegitimate. On 24th February, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine from Crimea.
Novofedorivka and Saky are located 50 km north of Sebastopol, the home of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet.
May Lead to an Escalation
The explosions may lead to an escalation in the conflict of Ukrainian involvement is found. It would also be Ukraine’s first major attack on a target inside Crimea. Ukraine did try to attack in June 2022.
The Russian-appointed leader claimed that Ukrainian forces had fired on the Black Sea oil drilling platforms in Crimean waters. The attack led to many casualties, he said. At the end of July Russians claimed that a Ukrainian drone struck a Russian naval facility, killing six.
Crimea a “historically significant” for Russia
Any attack would be an embarrassment for Vladimir Putin. And Russia may retaliate. Last month former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said “Judgement day will instantly await all those if Crimea is attacked. It will be very fast and very hard”.
(Inputs BBC)
