Explosions again rock Sevastopol in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea
The explosions were first reported at about 5.50 p.m. Residents say the blasts were so powerful that their walls were shaking.
At the same time, the Russian invaders claim that air defenses are allegedly operating in Sevastopol and Balaklava.
Read also: President’s Office pledges more attacks on illegal structures in Russian-occupied Crimea
On social media, users reported blast effects as far away as the town of Inkerman, 10 kilometers to the east of central Sevastopol. There were also reports that the blasts were heard in the village of Ridne, some 20 kilometers east of central Sevastopol.
Social media users reported windows being blown out, windows and curtains shaking, and car alarms being set off by the noise from the explosions.
The blasts are the latest in a wave that has rocked the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory since Aug. 9.
On that day, several powerful blasts hit a Russian air base near the village of Novofedorivka in the west of Crimea.
Read also: Putin is running out of excuses as Ukraine expands the war to Crimea
U.S. media later reported Ukraine was behind the attack, although Kyiv officially denies responsibility.
The next day, Ukraine’s General Staff announced the destruction of nine Russian planes as a result of the blasts.
Forbes later reported that between eight and 24 Russian aircraft were destroyed by the explosions.
Explosions were heard again in Russian-occupied Crimea a week later, on Aug. 16. In the morning, an ammunition depot exploded near the village of Azovske in the Dzhankoy district, and a fire broke out at an electricity transformer station in Dzhankoy itself.
Later, explosions hit an air base near the Crimean capital city of Simferopol.
Read also: Crimean residents ‘in panic’ after blasts at Saky airbase, says human rights activist
In addition, residents of the city of Kerch on the eastern tip of the peninsula heard loud bangs resembling explosions on the evening of Aug. 18. Residents of Sevastopol also reported explosions near the Belbek airfield.
In the following days, explosions were heard in Kerch, Sevastopol, Yevpatoria, Bakhchisarai, and several other cities, including near military facilities and airfields. The occupation authorities assure that the air defense system has been activated and claim to have downed drones.
The blasts in the occupied Crimea have caused panic among Russian tourists and local residents, leading to major traffic jams forming at the approaches to the Crimea bridge, which connects Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea with Russia across the Kerch Strait.
Read also: Crimean residents talk about life in the occupied peninsula after the explosions
In addition, according to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians began to urgently evacuate warplanes and military helicopters after the explosions in Crimea.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
