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Ukraine hit Russian airfield in occupied Crimea, General Staff confirms

by Dmytro Basmat and Kateryna Hodunova July 26, 2024 4:56 AM  (Updated: ) 2 min read
A general view of the Crimean Bridge which connects Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia's Krasnodar Krai on July 25, 2023. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Editor's note: This story was updated after the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed the attack on Saky airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed that Ukraine hit Russia's Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea overnight on July 26 following media reports about explosions in the area.

The consequences of the attack are being clarified, the military said.

Following sounds of explosions heard by local residents, a fire was reported at the Saky military airfield in the town of Novofedorivka, western Crimea, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported.

The fire was allegedly caused by a strike on an ammunition depot at the airfield, according to Crimean Wind.  

Russia uses the Saky airfield to control the airspace, in particular over the Black Sea, and to launch air strikes on Ukrainian territory, according to the General Staff's statement.

"The airfield was covered by 'modern' Russian air defense systems, which once again failed to protect an important Russian military facility," the General Staff said.

Earlier in the night, around 1 a.m. local time, multiple explosions were reported by residents in the western communities of Dobrushino, Novoozerne, as well as the city of Yevpatoria. Explosions were also heard in the southern city of Simferopol.

Residents reported seeing drones in the area of the reported explosions. Local occupation authorities in Sevastopol also reported Ukrainian drones overhead, as well as the threat of ballistic missiles in the region.

The occupied peninsula has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drone and naval strikes, forcing Russian forces to withdraw much of its naval power and beef up air defenses.

A Ukrainian attack on occupied Crimea on July 23 resulted in a ferry used by Russian forces to transport military equipment being "seriously damaged," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

Russia reportedly fortifies Kerch Bridge in occupied Crimea
Russia is reinforcing the Kerch Bridge in occupied Crimea, Krym Realii reported on July 24, citing witnesses.
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