This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
Edit post

Ukrainian intelligence: Saboteurs blow up warehouse in occupied Crimea

by Alexander Query and The Kyiv Independent news desk July 29, 2023 1:31 PM 2 min read
The Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia-occupied Crimea with Russia, is seen on July 25, 2023, a week after it was hit by explosions. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The ammunition warehouse explosions in Crimea on July 28 were the result of sabotage, Ukraine's military intelligence said.

The intelligence agency didn't explicitly say whether Ukraine was behind it. The Kyiv Independent reached out to Andriy Chernyak, a representative of the military intelligence. When asked whether Ukraine was behind the explosions, Chernyak only said that the warehouse "was an enemy site on the Ukrainian territory."

According to the agency, witnesses heard two explosions at around 10 p.m. and the sounds of further detonation of ammunition. Several ambulances and police reportedly arrived at the scene.

The warehouse was located in Kozacha Bay near Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea and a major port for the Russian Navy.

Russia's 810th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade is based in Kozacha Bay, Ukraine's military agency said in its report.

Earlier this week, the Russia occupation authorities claimed there was a "security threat" in a different part of Crimea, the Arabat Spit at the eastern end of the peninsula. The strip of land is one of two pathways connecting Crimea with the mainland Ukraine. On July 27, Russians prohibited civilian access to the Arabat Spit.

According to the report, only emergency workers and citizens performing defense-related work will be permitted access.

This comes a little over a week after the Kerch Bridge was hit with explosions on July 17. The bridge, illegally constructed by Russia in 2018, connects the Russian-occupied peninsula and Russia's Krasnodar Oblast. The Kremlin blamed Kyiv for the attack. Ukraine didn't take responsibility for it, but Ukraine's defense minister said that "attacks on the bridge will go on," as it's a legitimate military target.

Bridges across the Chonhar Strait located between northern Crimea and Ukraine's mainland were also damaged on June 22 following strikes. General Staff Deputy Chief Oleksii Hromov confirmed for Ukrinform on July 5 that Ukraine had carried out the attacks using Storm Shadow missiles.

Both bridges – the Kerch Bridge and the Chonhar Bridge – serve as important routes for Russian military personnel and supplies.

Explosions reported in occupied Crimea, Russian proxy claims drone strike on ammunition depot
The Russian proxy head in occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, claimed on July 24 that Ukrainian drones caused an explosion at an ammunition depot in the peninsula’s Dzhankoi region. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify Aksyonov’s claim.
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

1:50 PM  (Updated: )

Reuters reports Assad may have died in plane crash, later removes report.

Reuters on Dec. 8 reported, citing its Syrian sources that "there was a very high probability that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have been killed in a plane crash" as he was fleeing Damascus following its capture by rebels. Reuters later deleted the information from its reporting.
11:50 PM

US announces $988 million military aid package for Ukraine.

The latest aid package will be pulled through the remaining $2 billion in funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) — a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.