Ukraine's special forces were responsible for a series of deadly explosions which destroyed parts of a crucial Russian airbase in Crimea yesterday, killing one and injuring 14 according to a Ukrainian government official.
Up to ten Russian aircraft were destroyed in the attack, the Ukrainian air force said, which an anonymous official told the Washington Post had been carried out by special forces – despite claims yesterday that long-range missiles could have been used.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile vowed to 'liberate' the peninsula previously part of Ukraine but annexed by Russia in 2014 despite international condemnation.
Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation.'
The President's comments come as hordes of Russians seemingly began to fleeing the Crimea in the wake of the explosions which left one dead and 14 injured according to the latest reports.
The blasts rang out around 3:30pm local time yesterday afternoon at the Russian-held Novofedorivka military airbase in Western Crimea, which is located within sight of a popular beach.
Videos circulating yesterday on the Telegram messaging app showed dozens of shocked beachgoers watching trails of smoke snaking from the base before hastily evacuating the shore.
Other clips showed the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac destroyed in the devastating blasts.
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