Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the population to stay away from Russian military bases, especially in territories occupied by foreign troops. Although without claiming responsibility, kyiv confirms a series of detonations that have hit Moscow’s weapons storage, which would mark a turn in the development of the conflict. The Kremlin admits the explosions, which it attributes to “sabotage”, and strikes with more bombardments in civilian areas.
A series of explosions hits Russian military bases in Ukraine, suggesting a renewed counter-attack tactic by kyiv.
In the province of Crimea, in the south of Ukraine, the neighboring Nova Kakhovka, in Kherson, and the city of Melitopol, in the southeast, the military bases or weapons storages of the Kremlin troops have been the target of several detonations between Tuesday August 16 and this Wednesday 17.
All are territories currently occupied by Moscow forces.
In the midst of this panorama, the United Kingdom intelligence agencies, which have followed the conflict from the beginning, indicated in the last few hours that Russian military leaders are “increasingly concerned” about security in Crimea.
kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility for these events. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned residents in areas controlled by the foreign military to stay away from Russian military installations and ammunition depots, while stressing the importance of making Moscow tired of war.
“I ask all our people in Crimea, in other regions in the south of the country, in the occupied areas of Donbass and in the Kharkov region, to be very careful. Please do not approach the military facilities of the Russian Army as all those places where they store ammunition and equipment, where they have their barracks,” the president assured in his daily message.
Zelensky added that the events could have various causes, including “incompetence.”
Although it is not the first time that the Ukrainians have attacked Russian targets so far in the war, the latest detonations are occurring more frequently and in locations with important supply lines for Russian troops.
The explosions raise the prospect of a new dynamic in the war, which has been going on for nearly six months, if Ukraine’s military now has the ability to strike deeper into Russian-held areas or if pro-kyiv groups are successful with attacks from the guerrilla style.
Presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak and chief of staff Andriy Yermak gloated on social media over Russia’s “demilitarization,” an apparent mocking reference to the word President Vladimir Putin frequently uses to justify his ordered invasion of Russia. its neighboring country on February 24.
What is known about the latest explosions against Russian bases
This Wednesday, August 17, a wave of explosions was heard near a Russian command center in Melitopol, according to the mayor of the town Ivan Fedorov.
“Let me remind you that here is one of the offices of the commander of the occupiers (…) The earth will burn under the occupiers: our soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine prove this unshakeable truth every day in the south of Ukraine,” he said. Ukrainian official.
Less than 24 hours earlier, at least 12 Russians were killed in an attack on their base in the occupied city of Nova Kakhovka, according to the Army of the attacked country.
Also, in Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, multiple explosions rocked a Russian ammunition depot on Tuesday and disrupted train service. A fact that the Ministry of Defense recognized and attributed to “sabotage”.
Specifically, the events were recorded near Dzhankoi and Gvardeyskoye. Both host two key Russian military airfields in that region.
The impacts forced the evacuation of 2,000 people from a nearby town, Russian officials and state news agencies reported.
The damage that may be done to Russian attackers, particularly in Crimea, has crucial effects, since it is a province that the Kremlin has used to reinforce its troops who then launch assaults in other parts of Ukraine with heavy military equipment. A process that kyiv aims to interrupt before a possible counteroffensive in the south.
The annexed region is also the base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Moscow responds with new bombing
Despite the blows against the Russian military power, its military continues to strike hard on Ukrainian territory.
In the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, in the east of the country and controlled by pro-Russian militias, two civilians were killed and seven others were injured by recent Russian bombardments against several towns and villages, reported the governor of the region, Pavlo Kyrylenko.
The area has come under heavy bombardment by the Russian military in recent weeks as they try to make tactical gains in the larger Donbass region to which it belongs.
Meanwhile, in Odessa, in the south-west, three people were injured and a recreation center was destroyed by the launch of at least two Russian missiles.
The airstrike caused a fire and several buildings were badly damaged, after which the authorities launched a rescue operation for possible victims under the rubble, said Sergey Bratchuk, a representative of the port city’s military administration.
With Reuters and local media
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