Posted on 08/10/2022 6:17:33 PM PDT by 11th_VA
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack, which would represent a significant escalation in the war.
Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday’s blasts — or that any attack took place. But satellite photos clearly showed at least seven fighter planes at the base had been blown up and others probably damaged.
Ukrainian officials stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while mocking Russia’s explanation that a careless smoker might have caused ammunition at the Saki air base to catch fire and blow up. Analysts also said that explanation doesn’t make sense and that the Ukrainians could have used anti-ship missiles to strike the base.
If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized from Ukraine by the Kremlin in 2014. Russian warplanes have used Saki to strike areas in Ukraine’s south.
Crimea holds huge strategic and symbolic significance for both sides. The Kremlin’s demand that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia has been one of its key conditions for ending the fighting, while Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians from the peninsula and all other occupied territories.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
This attack on the air base was probably a bunch of Chechen commandos, and not necessarily done on behalf of the Ukrainians.
Chechnya has a lot of scores to settle with the Russian Federation, and in the fog of war, it would be relatively easy to infiltrate and do the suspected sabotage.
Yep, I heard that the Apache Rangers are still holding grudges and tend to break ranks time to time to blow USAF installations.
Very embarrassing for the Russian's vacationing on the beach in Crimea, oblivious to the war next door their president is waging.
Official Statement from RT:
Russia’s Defense Ministry has released an official statement on Tuesday's explosions at the Saki military airfield on the Crimean Peninsula, ruling out the idea of an attack from Ukraine.
Officials explained that the incident was caused by the detonation of munitions, used in aviation, that were stored at the site.
The blasts occurred near the city of Novofedorovka on Tuesday afternoon, with locals reporting hearing several explosions coming from the airfield and sharing videos online showing smoke coming from the area. According to eyewitnesses, the blasts had knocked out the windows in houses near the airfield.
Moscow has stated that no one has been injured in the explosion and that none of the aviation equipment at the airfield was damaged by the blasts.
“Measures are being taken to extinguish the fire and find out the causes of the explosion. According to a report from the site, there was no fire impact on the bunded ammunition storage area at the airfield,” the Defense Ministry said.
Bagdad Bob, indeed.
Excellent news. Nobody for them to retaliate against !
Actually there is. The Kiev government buildings and airports and rail lines leading into Kiev. If the Ukes plan to invade Crimea, they leave no choice but for Russia to take all of Ukraine and declare war.
And each one had Putin’s favorite general in it.
Another victory for Ukraine! Nine planes gone in one blast—That half the Russian air force. Wait for the Million Man Army, now being trained in Poland by Brits. Each one with a muli launched rocket system! Ukraine is invincible! Russia can not defeat them—No one can. One Million patriots, with help from freedom loving Europeans and Americans, can not be stopped. Crimea will be Ukraine again! Then on to Moscow! Then all Russian collaborators must be driven into the Black Sea! Repopulate the place with Turks.
Nope. The Ruskies said it was a smoking accident.
Now if the Ruskies blamed the Ukes, you would be right.
But the Ruskies blamed their smokers. So there is noone to retaliate against .
Sorry Ukes but in case you haven’t heard we got our own issues here in the US.
Please put down the bong !
Those are not mutually exclusive. After they said the Moskva sank in an accident, they launched a rain of cruise missiles against several Uke based including the one by Lviv where NATO equipment stages as it comes it.
I would expect we are going to see Russia go ahead and push east and do something to give Zelinsky a scare.
It’s honestly hard to tell what the heck is going on at times,
and this is one of them.
We saw a lot of video that is reported to show the blast.
If it is valid video, there’s a problen for Russia in it.
It shows two different explosions simultaneously a
distance apart.
Look, I am not claiming the video is valid. I don’t know,
but if it is, Russia has some splainin to do.
Maybe it was two careless smokers?
That was a darn busy careless smoker!
Anyone sensible has to really wonder about some of these Russki “explanations”. I mean, the sat evidence aside, which is really worse for them: That Ukraine, possibly with weapons and intel supplied by the West, made the successful hit, or, that the Russians’ own protocols and safety measures are junk?
right? he was smoking a pack at a time...
What are you smoking?
This is a victory in Ukraine being able to hold back Russia and even take back kherson soon.
Well, at a minimum the Russians need to do a better job of storing munitions FAR away from their valuable aircraft.
I know that Mama always insisted that I store and carry my C4 and blasting caps separately. The same principle would apply to an Air Force also.
Sigh.
Then the first event (the sinking) is not the causative excuse for the other (the missile strike).
If the official Ruskie cause for the sinking of the Moskava is Thr Ukrainians. Then the Ruskies cannot claim that the missile attack is a retaliation. The attack has to stand on its own heathen merits.
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