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New satellite images released Thursday show the aftermath of an attack that destroyed a Russian air base in Crimea.
Russian officials denied that the damage was caused by any attack and insisted that three nearly identical craters at Saki Air Base were due to “accidental” explosions on Tuesday. The explosions would have resulted from ammunition stored at the site, officials said.
Russia also denied that the planes suffered damage from the blasts, but satellite images, released by Planet Labs, indicate that at least eight warplanes were wrecked.
Witnesses, who posted videos and photos on social media as smoke rose from the base following the blasts, reported “multiple blasts” at the base.
RUSSIA, MILITARY BASE BELARUS SCALTED BY FIRE, EXPLOSIONS DAYS AFTER THE CRIMEA AIR BASE SAW DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSIONS
Officials said at least one person died and more than a dozen were injured, with at least 62 apartment buildings and 20 commercial facilities damaged.
Sergey Aksynov, appointed by Russia to command the unrecognized Republic of Crimea, declared a state of emergency following the explosions.
Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for the attack or said how it was carried out, Reuters reported. The attack, if carried out from Kiev, would indicate greater long-range attack capabilities.
Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of “Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America”, questioned Ukraine’s potential involvement, noting that it would cause “further escalation” from Russia since Moscow considers the area its own territory.
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“While I don’t completely rule out the possibility of Ukrainian resistance staging explosions in Crimea … Kiev’s missile attacks on Crimea are highly unlikely,” Koffler said. “Ukrainians know it would be a red line for Putin because Russia annexed Crimea in 2014”.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to the attack in his Wednesday night speech, referring to the loss of nine Russian planes in Crimea and “one more to Zaporizhzhia,” according to the New York Times.
“If you have any important information about the enemy, please report it securely to our intelligence services, our military,” Zelenskyy said. “If you know those who help the occupiers or justify the attack, report it too.”
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Two buildings near the plane appear damaged, with some potential “shock wave damage,” the Times wrote.
A US official who spoke to the Washington Post on condition of anonymity said Tuesday that a US weapon was not used in the Crimean explosion.
