On the night of 24 June, a series of explosions rocked the temporarily occupied Crimea, leaving part of Sevastopol without electricity. Local residents have reported a major fire at a power facility.
- Reports are emerging from Crimea of a series of explosions in Simferopol and Sevastopol.
- Eyewitnesses report a fire at an energy facility in Sevastopol.
- A thick plume of black smoke was spotted rising above the city.
- The occupying authorities have confirmed power cuts.
- Residents have been urged to conserve the battery life of their mobile devices.
Reports of attacks on energy infrastructure
On the night of 24 June, powerful explosions were heard in Crimea, which, according to preliminary reports, struck energy infrastructure in Simferopol and Sevastopol. Eyewitnesses claim that there were several strikes in Sevastopol, leading to a major fire at one of the energy facilities. Social media is flooded with photos and videos showing thick black smoke rising into the sky.
«We saw smoke rising from the power station; it was terrifying,» says a local resident.
According to unconfirmed reports, a key substation supplying electricity to a large part of the Sevastopol energy district may have been damaged. The occupying authorities have confirmed that the attack caused a temporary power cut.
The implications for Sevastopol
The power cut in Sevastopol has caused concern amongst residents. The occupying administration has urged people to conserve battery power on their mobile devices and not to overload the electricity grid once power is restored. Emergency services are already working to assess the damage.
If reports of damage to a key substation are confirmed, this could have a significant impact on the functioning of the city’s civilian and military infrastructure. Sevastopol is a vital logistical and military hub for Russian forces on the occupied peninsula, so energy facilities are critical to the region’s functioning.
Why it matters
In recent months Crimea is facing frequent disruptions to its energy and transport infrastructure. Any damage to major energy hubs could have a negative impact not only on the daily lives of the population but also on the functioning of the occupying forces’ military facilities. At present, there is no official confirmation of the extent of the damage from independent sources.
