It is the third military incident this summer in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. The latest explosion is symbolically important for Kyiv – and an image disaster for Moscow.
For the second time in about a week there have been heavy explosions on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia.
Since the morning, people have been sharing recordings on social networks that show a large fire and the sounds of detonations can be heard. “I probably won’t go to work today,” says one woman, filming thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky some distance from her home.
According to the Crimean administration, an ammunition depot in the north was hit. It is the military incident with the most far-reaching consequences so far this summer on the holiday island popular with Russian vacationers, which Moscow had already annexed in 2014.
Moscow speaks of an “act of sabotage”
In the afternoon, Russia’s Defense Ministry spoke of an “act of sabotage”, as a result of which a number of civilian objects were damaged in the Dzhankoy region – including power lines, a power plant, railway tracks and some residential buildings. So there were no serious injuries. Crimea’s head of administration, Sergei Aksjonov, previously spoke of two injuries. According to him, more than 3,000 people had to be brought to safety. A state of emergency has been declared in the affected area.
According to Aksjonov, train traffic in the region was also interrupted. People would be taken to their destinations by bus, he said. The rail connections from Moscow go via Dschankoj over the new Crimean bridge to the capital Simferopol on the peninsula. The trains from Moscow should only go as far as Vladislavowka. Because air traffic has been suspended, many tourists use the train in the summertime to get to the Black Sea resorts.
“Crimea belongs to Ukraine”
It was initially unclear who was responsible for the explosions. In any case, in Kyiv the news about the burning Russian military camp was once again received with satisfaction. The soldiers of the Ukrainian army are the best providers of “good vibes,” wrote the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram. “Crimea belongs to Ukraine,” he stressed.
Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter: “Reminder: Crimea of a normal country means Black Sea, mountains, recreation and tourism; Russian-occupied Crimea means depot explosions and a high risk of death for the invaders and thieves. Demilitarization is underway .”
Only last Tuesday there were heavy explosions at another Russian military base in Crimea. According to the authorities, one person was killed and 14 others injured in the explosions at the base in Saki near the resort town of Nowofyodorovka. Russian vacationers left the beaches in a hurry.
“This is just the beginning,” Podoljak wrote at the time. Experts believe Ukraine struck the base, destroying several fighter jets. However, Kyiv has not officially confirmed the attack. Russia, on the other hand, claims the explosion occurred because of fire safety violations.
Ukraine in possession of a new weapon?
Last week’s incident sparked speculation about a possible new Ukrainian weapon. The Ukrainian armaments industry was making progress, sources in Kyiv said at the time. The focus of military experts is primarily on the new Hrim-2 short-range ballistic missiles. They were developed in Ukraine and are said to have a range of up to 500 kilometers.
According to Moscow, a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the port city of Sevastopol on July 31. Even then there were injuries. Ukraine, on the other hand, dismissed the Russian account as “invented”.
The recent incidents are of great symbolic importance for both sides. Russian observers are now asking questions about how well the peninsula, which Moscow has heavily armed, is actually protected. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has repeatedly announced that Crimea’s security should be further strengthened. Russian regions bordering Ukraine have also reported an extremely tense situation since the war of aggression ordered by Putin at the end of February. The governors of Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod repeatedly complain about alleged shelling by Ukrainian troops.
So far, Russia has failed to follow up on its announcements that it would bomb command centers in Kyiv if the shelling doesn’t stop. But the threats are still there. For example, when Kyiv announced counter-offensives in the direction of Crimea as early as July, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the Ukrainian leadership “exuberant clowns” and wrote: “If something like this happens, doomsday will come for all of them at once. Very fast and hard.”
For many Ukrainians, attacks against the Crimean rulers have a special meaning because the annexed peninsula has been the epitome of Russian aggression for them for more than eight years. “This Russian war against Ukraine, against the whole of free Europe, started with Crimea and must end with Crimea, with its liberation,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently. Since the beginning of the war almost six months ago, he has repeatedly promised his compatriots a reconquest.
Sergei Aksyonov Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak on Twitter Yermak on Telegram
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
