A series of explosions occurred near the Crimean village of Novofedorovka. According to eyewitnesses, the first explosion was heard around 3 PM local time, and subsequent explosions lasted “almost an hour”. Local residents also said they saw black smoke rising from the side of the Russian military airbase.
The village of Novofedorovka is located in the Saksky district on the western coast of Crimea. Just behind the settlement area located on the eastern skirts of the settlement Saki military airport.
“So far I have only been able to confirm the authenticity of a few explosions in the Novofedorovka area. I ask everyone to wait for official messages and not produce versions,” he said.
Viktoria Kazmirova, deputy head of the administration of the Saki district, later confirmed the information about the explosions at the airport.
“Our airport is exploding. Explosion at the airport! All the windows are broken here,” said Kazmirova.
According to Kommersant, citing sources in the local government, “about ten” explosions. The publication stated that the ammunition depots and the track were burned.
Possible causes
A source from the Crimean authorities told Kommersant, according to preliminary data, a fire during the refueling may have caused explosions at the military airport.
Citing sources, RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan wrote in her Telegram: “At the scene, they believe it’s sabotage, not arrival. Or even head-scratching.”
In turn, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, described the explosions as “the result of careless use of fire.”
The Ministry of Defense evaluated the situation
While a large number of aviation ammunition was detonated on the territory of Saki airport, the cause of the explosions was disclosed to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
“At around 15.20, on the territory of the Saki airfield near the settlement of Novofedorovka, several aviation munitions exploded in a package landfill,” the ministry said.
The ministry stated that as a result, no one was injured and aviation equipment at the airport was not damaged.
“Measures are being taken to extinguish the fire and find out the causes of the explosion,” the Ministry of Defense said.
They also stated “There was no fire effect in the packaged ammunition storage area at the airport”.
On the Ukrainian side, the event was officially commented on by Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk.
“Today is International Indigenous Peoples Day. This is how the Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks are considered in Ukraine. And the explosions in Novofedorivka today are another reminder of who the Crimea belongs to. Because this is Ukraine!” he wrote on his social networks.
At the same time, Attention, News channel cites a source, stating that the version of “third-party military intervention” is excluded.
Affected
The explosion occurred far from the resort, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators. “There are no deaths or injuries among the tourists,” the organization said.
The Regional Health Ministry reported that ambulances and air ambulances went to the area where the explosions took place. The head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, also went to the scene. He noted that the circumstances of the emergency were being investigated and it was “too early to talk about the victims”.
“All necessary measures have been strengthened to ensure the safety of infrastructure facilities and the population. Aksenov wrote in his Telegram channel that measures were taken to establish a cordon circle in a 5 kilometer area for the first time.
in a separate report
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At the same time, Telegram channels Caution News and Mash write about the three victims, citing sources in the Ministry of Emergencies.
“One of them is a 9-year-old boy with a cut wound on his forearm. He injured his leg while hiding in the basement. Already helped and discharged,” says Mash.
Later, the Ministry of Health of the region announced. 5 injured, including a child. One of the injured was taken to the hospital for surgery.
Crimean President Sergei Aksyonov said that one person died in the explosions in Novofedorovka. He also explained that the situation is now localized and under control.
Evacuation and state of emergency
Administration of the Saki region of Crimea announced the evacuation of citizensWrites TASS. According to the adviser to the regional president, about 30 people were evacuated from the emergency area. The head of Crimea noted that there was no general evacuation in the Saki region. People are only being evicted from homes located next to the military unit.
“People will be placed in hostels and hotels. It is provided with food. “A cordon was set up along the perimeter of the airport,” Kryuchkov said.
He also searched for fake messages about declaring a state of emergency for 60 days on the peninsula’s territory.
“Please do not spread Ukrainian fakes. We trust only official information. “No one declared a state of emergency,” the counselor said.
What is known about the airport
Saki military airport is used to base aviation of the RF Ministry of Defense – airplanes and helicopters, including naval aviation. There is also a ground test training complex for navy aircraft takeoff and landing practice. This is one of two similar simulators in the country.
The complex is an aerodrome with a steel airfield in the form of a ship deck, equipped with a springboard and holders.
From 2014 to the present, the 43rd Separate Naval Strike Aviation Regiment on Su-24M aircraft has been deployed at the airport.
Source: Gazeta
