A sequence of blasts rattled the Crimean village of Novofedorovka, drawing urgent attention from residents and officials alike. Eyewitnesses reported the first detonation around 3 PM local time, with additional explosions continuing for nearly an hour. Black smoke was observed rising from the vicinity of the Russian military airbase near the village.
Novofedorovka lies in the Saksky district on Crimea’s western coast, just beyond the eastern outskirts of Saki, where the military airport is situated. In initial remarks, officials warned that confirmations were still being gathered and urged the public to await official statements rather than speculate.
Viktoria Kazmirova, deputy head of the Saki district administration, later confirmed explosions at the airport, describing the scene directly: “Our airport is exploding. Explosion at the airport! All the windows are broken here.”
According to Kommersant, citing local government sources, about ten explosions occurred, with reports indicating fires at ammunition depots and the track area. The incident prompted a focus on what had burned and where the damage lay.
Possible causes
A Crimean official told Kommersant that preliminary information points to a fire during refueling as a possible trigger for the explosions at the airfield.
RT’s Margarita Simonyan wrote on Telegram that observers on the scene suspected sabotage rather than an accidental strike, though some remarks remained ambiguous.
Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s internal affairs leadership, described the blasts as the result of careless handling of fire.
The Ministry of Defense evaluated the situation
With a large quantity of aviation munitions detonating at Saki airfield, official channels began detailing the cause. At about 15:20 local time, several munitions exploded in a package storage area near Novofedorovka, the defense ministry stated. No injuries were reported, and aircraft at the airport were not damaged by the incident. Firefighting and investigative measures were underway, and the ministry emphasized that there was no fire effect in the packaged ammunition storage area.
On the Ukrainian side, Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk offered comments regarding the incident through public channels.
“Today marks International Indigenous Peoples Day. In Ukraine, the Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks are recognized as part of the people. The explosions in Novofedorovka are another reminder of who Crimea belongs to—Ukraine,” she wrote on social media.
Attention News channel, citing a source, noted that the version of third-party military intervention had been ruled out. This line of reporting underscored competing narratives around the event.
Affected
The blast occurred away from a popular resort area, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators, which stated that there were no tourist casualties or fatalities reported. Regional health services indicated that ambulances and air ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and Crimea’s governor, Sergei Aksyonov, traveled to the area to oversee operations and assess the situation. He noted that investigators were actively reviewing the circumstances and that it was too early to determine the full impact on victims.
Aksyonov also announced that a cordon would be established within a five-kilometer perimeter, a precautionary measure intended to safeguard the population and infrastructure.
Subsequent reports from Telegram channels cautioned by some sources of three fatalities, including a child, though official health updates later listed five injuries, with one patient undergoing surgery. Officials later confirmed at least one fatality and stressed that authorities were maintaining control over the situation.
Evacuation and state of emergency
The Saki regional administration announced a measured evacuation of residents, with around 30 people relocated from the immediate emergency zone. There was no region-wide evacuation, and people near the military unit were moved to temporary accommodations with provisions for meals. A perimeter cordon remained in place around the airport to prevent unauthorized access, and officials urged the public to rely on official updates rather than unverified messages. The regional leader and his team warned against spreading misinformation and reassured the public of safety measures being enacted.
Reports also circulated about a potential declaration of a state of emergency, but officials stated that no such measure had been enacted and urged restraint in sharing unverified information.
What is known about the airport
Saki military airport serves as a base for aviation assets of the Russian Ministry of Defense, including aircraft and naval aviation assets. The site also hosts a ground test complex for navy aircraft takeoff and landing practice, one of two such simulators in the country. The airfield features a steel deck-style layout, a ship-like runway configuration, and is equipped with a springboard and mounting points for equipment.
Since 2014, the 43rd Separate Naval Strike Aviation Regiment has been stationed at the airport, operating Su-24M aircraft, contributing to the region’s air defense and aviation capabilities.