It is still unclear why there were several explosions at the Saki airbase in Crimea on Tuesday. At least it seems clear: Contrary to what the Kremlin claims, there is little evidence that the cause of the detonations was a violation of fire protection regulations.
Satellite images from the San Francisco-based Earth observation company Planet Labs show that there have been impacts in several places on the military site – the corresponding craters are clearly visible.
Ukraine has so far not claimed responsibility for explosions in Crimea
The “New York Times” reported that a new weapon system had been deployed by Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian government has not yet claimed responsibility for the alleged attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only pointed out that several Russian military aircraft had been destroyed at the airbase – this is also confirmed by the satellite images. Partisans loyal to Kyiv may also have played a role in the incident.
In Ukraine, it is pointed out that Russia could have staged the attack itself to create a pretext for new strikes. What is certain, however, is that the explosions are damaging Russia’s image as a guarantor of security in Crimea.
Traditionally, Moscow does not acknowledge the military successes of the other side. The Kremlin untruthfully attributed the sinking of the “Moskva”, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, to a violation of fire safety regulations. However, it is considered certain that the Ukrainian army sunk the ship with US Harpoon missiles.
According to military experts from the US Institute for the Study of the War, the Russian leadership does not want to admit a Ukrainian attack for image reasons. According to the DPA news agency, experts said Moscow would then have to admit that its air defense system had failed.
You can read all the latest developments on Russia’s war in Ukraine here in the stern live blog
In any case, Crimea is likely to be the focus of international attention even more frequently in the near future. The Ukrainian leadership makes no secret of its plans to retake the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. “This is just the beginning,” said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak.
See images of the damaged Saki Air Force Base in Crimea in the photo gallery above.
Source: Stern
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