Powerful explosions and fire at an oil depot in Crimea
On Friday night, Crimea suffered a massive drone strike. The strongest explosions were heard in the area of the village of Gvardeyske near Simferopol. According to local Telegram channels, after a series of detonations on the territory of oil depots a large-scale fire broke out, visible for tens of kilometres.
Eyewitnesses have posted videos of huge columns of flame and smoke rising above the facility. The work of rescue services is complicated by repeated explosions of fuel tanks.
A blow to the occupiers' logistics hub
The oil depot in Gvardeyske is one of the key logistics hubs of the Russian military, where fuel for vehicles and aircraft was stored. The Ukrainian side has not officially confirmed its involvement in the attack, but similar strikes have previously been called «part of operations to destroy the enemy's military infrastructure».
Russian resources report «air defence activity», but admit that several objects were hit. Information about the victims is being clarified.
Background
In recent weeks, Crimea has become one of the main targets for Ukrainian drone attacks. Earlier, the strikes targeted Feodosia, Sevastopol and Dzhanka, where fuel depots and military facilities were burning.
Experts believe that such operations are aimed at to paralyse the supply of the Russian army in the southern direction and force the occupiers to withdraw resources from the front.
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