Ukraine yesterday attacked a Russian airbase in Crimea, scaring off tourists staying at seaside resorts. Videos posted on social media show people running on the strip of sand and witness thick black smoke, in addition to the noise of explosions and sirens.
After the attacks, people trying to flee the Crimean region got caught in traffic. Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, is at the forefront of Russia’s military offensive.
Witnesses said they heard at least 12 explosions at the Saky base around 3:20 p.m. (local time) yesterday, according to Sky News. Russian officials say one person was killed and five injured, including a child, in the attack.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine warned tourists on social media.
“I would like to remind everyone that the presence of troops on the territory of Crimea is incompatible with the peak tourist season.”
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine would like to remind everyone that the presence of occupying forces on the territory of Ukrainian Crimea is incompatible with the peak tourist season. pic.twitter.com/PFl6jBzKh4
Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 9, 2022
Last night Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Crimea is Ukrainian and will be liberated from Russian occupation before the end of the war.
Russia says the attack was not a bomb attack but a munitions explosion.
“Several ammunition intended for aviation exploded in a depot on the territory of the Saki airbase near the town of Novofiodorovka,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement released by Russian news agencies.
Check out the videos posted on social media:
In the hot summer season in Novofedorivka, occupied Crimea, a Russian military base was blown up.
It is over 300 km behind the current front line. pic.twitter.com/9lFyWGWH8I
Oleksiy Sorokin (@mrsorokaa) August 9, 2022
Footage of the massive strike at Saki airfield in Crimea, more than 200 km from the front line. Beachgoers panic as war returns to the peninsula annexed by Ukraine in 2014. pic.twitter.com/Lh73W2PVOE
Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) August 9, 2022
100 km traffic jam people want to leave Crimea.
Do you think the Russians will finally understand that this is really a war? pic.twitter.com/KmwLqkxWGI
Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 10, 2022
*With information from AFP