Today’s explosions at a Russian-held military base in Crimea have been accompanied by a mushroom cloud, which sent many bathers to flee the area.
According to different sources, eyewitnesses saw at least twelve explosions over the span of one minute, around 3:30 PM local time.
Yet another blast was triggered around 30 minutes later, causing large plumes of thick black smoke to snake from the direction of the base in Novofedorivka, Western Crimea.
Russia annexed Ukraine’s peninsula in 2014. Since then it has been occupying the area, despite much condemnation from the international community.
However, the source of these explosions is still unknown.
Novofedorivka lies more than 130 miles away from any part of Ukraine that is not under the control of Putin’s forces. The Ukrainian authorities are not yet officially claiming responsibility.
Viktor Andrusiv (a former advisor to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs) wrote that missiles capable of reaching a distance of 200-300 km are in use in Ukraine.
“The explosions …. at Novofedorivka, Crimea today are public evidence of this.”
Russian defence ministry claimed that explosions caused by missile fire were not to be believed.
The explosion left no one injured. The explosion did not cause any damage to the aircraft equipment on the airport. There are currently measures being taken to extinguish flames and determine the source of the blast.
According to the official site report, there were no fires in the ammunition storage at the airport.
Telegram users shared video clips that show the aftermath of explosions. There were videos showing tourists running from the beach, while police urge people to flee.
The scene of the explosions at the Russian-held airbase Novofedorivka in Crimea is covered by a large mushroom cloud.
A series of large explosions rocked the Russian-held Crimea Military Airbase this afternoon. Additionally, a mushroom cloud threatened to send bathers running from nearby beaches.
In this photograph taken at the base, you can see two explosions.
However, it isn’t clear if the blast came directly from the base.
Eyewitnesses reported at least 12 explosions according to different sources.
Watching in horror, beachgoers looked on as smoke started to billow from the base’s direction.
Russia’s 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (Black Sea Fleet) is located at this airbase.
There are a variety of Russian aircraft planes stationed at this base including Su-30SM and Su-24M fighter jets, and Tu-134 freighter aircraft.
Crimea is being spared from the heavy bombardment and artillery firefights that took place elsewhere in eastern and southern Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin’s February 24th order to send Russian military forces into Ukraine, including those based on the peninsula.
Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to the head of the Russian-occupied peninsula Sergei Aksyonov, refused to speculate on the incident, telling Russia’s RIA Novosti: ‘So far, I can only confirm the fact that several explosions occurred in the Novofedorivka area.
“I request everyone to listen to official messages, and not create their own versions of events.”
Telegram followers were informed by Aksyonov that he was on his way to the blast site, and that “circumstances” are being clarified.
The TASS news agency stated that emergency services were sent from Saky to reach the blast site. Locals also reported congestion along roads away from the coast, as people fled.
Satellite photographs of Novofedorivka airbase reveal a variety of Russian fighter planes lined up alongside the runway.
The TASS news agency reports that emergency personnel from Saky, a nearby city, were dispatched to the blast spot. According to a Russian defense source, the explosions weren’t caused by incoming missile fire.
Following explosions heard near Novofedorivka (Crimea), August 9, 2011, smoke rose
The Novofedorivka Airbase is visible as large plumes of smoke that are visible snaking in the direction of these black smoke clouds