Ukraine war: One dead as Russia insists explosions at Crimea air base caused by detonation of ammunition, not attack | World News
One person has been killed after a series of explosions at a Russian military airbase near coastal resorts on the annexed Crimea peninsula.
Witnesses said they heard at least 12 explosions at around 3:20pm local time (1.20pm BST) from the Saky base on the west coast.
There was speculation that the base was hit by a missile but Russia said ammunition exploded.
Videos posted on social media showed people running from the beach as flames and plumes of smoke rose from multiple locations.
Witnesses also reported a fire on a runway and damage to nearby homes, Crimea Today News said on Telegram.
Smoke can be seen rising from a beach near the airbase
Majority of Russians ‘want peace’ – latest update on Ukraine war
Crimea’s health department said one civilian was killed, while another was treated in hospital for moderate injuries and five others suffered minor injuries.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and used it as a launch pad for a neighbor’s invasion in February.
Russian warplanes have used this base to attack areas in southern Ukraine.
Smoke rising from the direction of the airbase
Moscow said the explosions were explosions of ammunition storage, and were not caused by an attack.
Russia’s main news agencies quoted an unnamed ministry source as saying that “simply violating fire safety requirements is considered the main cause of the explosion of several ammunition depots at Saky airport. “.
The source added: “There is no indication, evidence or, even less, event (to indicate) a deliberate impact on the ammunition depots.”
However, on Ukrainian social networks there were suggestions that the base was hit by a long-range missile from Ukraine.
In a seemingly sarcastic Facebook post, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said: “The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was unable to determine the cause of the fire, but once again reiterates fire safety rules and prohibits smoke in unspecified places.”
It added: “We cannot rule out that occupants will ‘accidentally’ find some characteristic ‘badges’, ‘visiting cards’ or even ‘DNA’.”
Since the start of the war, Russia has reported numerous fires and explosions at weapons storage sites on its territory near the Ukrainian border, blaming some of them on Russian air strikes. Ukraine.
Ukraine barely commented.
