multiple explosions reported near annexed Crimean resort town

Several explosions sounded near the town of Novofedorivka, a small seaside town located in annexed Crimea, Tuesday August 9th. Plumes of black smoke are visible for several hundred meters around, according to numerous images broadcast on social networks.

The incident is not related to artillery fire or airstrikes. In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that “Aviation munitions had exploded in a protected storage area” from the Saki military airfield, and that no one had been injured. The airport infrastructure, still according to this source, was not damaged.

“Measures have been taken to set up a perimeter” security in a five kilometer zone, clarified (in Russian) Sergei Aksenov, leader of this territory claimed by Russia since 2014, in a video shot at the scene. He adds that at this stage, no civilian had requested the assistance of rescuers, and asks the population to trust only the information provided by the authorities.