While Russia’s military intervention against Ukraine, which started on February 24, continued, the news from Crimea drew attention. There were consecutive explosions at Russia’s Saki Air Base on Tuesday. While Ukraine did not take responsibility for the incident, it was seen in the satellite photos that the base was heavily damaged. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that explosions occurred in the ammunition depot at the base, and that no aircraft was damaged.
SATELLITE PHOTOS REVEALED
Satellite photos taken by the US-based company Planet Labs show that Russia’s Saki Air Base in Crimea was severely damaged by explosions on Tuesday. From the photos taken, it appears that at least eight planes were destroyed or damaged on the base.
THE BASE MAY BE TARGET IN AN ATTACK
It can also be seen in the photos that craters were formed after the explosions on the top and a large area was burned. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that many planes on the base were destroyed, but the Kyiv administration did not take responsibility for the incident. Satellite images show that the base may have been targeted in an attack.
Planet Labs is a company that reviews hundreds of satellite photos taken in Ukraine.
One person died as a result of the explosions at Saki Air Base.
While eyewitnesses said they heard at least 12 explosions, it was seen in some videos published on social media that people on the beaches around the base were panicking.
The base, near Novofederika, is located in the west of Crimea, which Russia annexed 8 years ago, close to the holiday resorts preferred by Russian tourists.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that explosions occurred in the ammunition depot at the base, no aircraft was damaged, and that there was no attack by Ukraine on the base.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also said that they had nothing to do with the explosions.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said, “I think the Russian soldiers at the base did not follow a very simple rule. That rule was ‘Do not smoke in dangerous places’. It is that simple.”
UK MINISTER OF DEFENSE WALLACE: UKRAINE HAS THE RIGHT TO TARGET THE CRIMEA
On the other hand, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, speaking to the BBC, said that there were two separate explosions at the base, which was a sign of an attack rather than an accident.
Ben Wallace stated that Ukraine has the right to target Crimea.
“For Ukraine, it is perfectly legitimate to reclaim its land and repel the invading force, using lethal force if necessary,” said Wallace.
Former Russian President and Security Council Vice-President Dimitry Medvedev said in his speech last month that targeting Crimea would mean “apocalypse” for Ukraine.
In his latest statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that the war in his country started in Crimea and said, “We will not forget that Russia’s war against Ukraine started with the occupation of Crimea. The war must end with the liberation of Crimea. Crimea belongs to Ukraine. Crimea belongs to Ukraine. “We will never give up on it,” he said.
Zelenskiy had previously made different statements on this issue, saying that they would accept a ceasefire if Russia withdrew to the positions before February 24, when it began to invade his country, and did not count the return of Crimea to Ukraine among the conditions of peace.
Russia annexed Crimea, which is part of Ukraine, in 2014 after a referendum that the international community said was illegitimate.