‘Saboteurs’ in Crimea Create New Fears for Russia in Ukraine
A series of devastating explosions at key Russian military sites on the occupied strategic peninsula have forced the Kremlin to reconsider territory it considers safe.
The Kremlin appears deeply concerned about the successful sabotage of Russian ammunition and logistics hubs in Crimea during what look to be increasingly brazen Ukrainian commando raids.
Both Russia and Ukraine confirmed on Tuesday explosions at a Russian airfield on the critically strategic peninsula that Moscow first annexed in 2014 as well as at an ammunition depot in its D.zhankoi district. Widely disseminated social media posts showed massive plumes of black smoke emanating from the depot as live rounds cooked off, creating secondary explosions
The Ukrainian government was conspicuously tight-lipped – even coy – about the perpetrators of the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his daily address warning his fellow citizens against traveling close to Russian military installations on the peninsula. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote in a cryptic tweet early Wednesday, “According to the insider information, a fire from cigarette butts on the territory of Crimea occurred near a bowling club. Lucky strike!” in what some considered an allusion to the Russian military base. Ukrainian officials have previously attributed damaging explosions at Russian military facilities to its soldiers’ carelessness with lit cigarettes.
Zelenskyy only mentioned Crimea generally, thanking those “who oppose the occupiers.” But unnamed Ukrainian officials told several news outlets late Tuesday that elite commando units carried out the operations.
Russia merely attributed the attack to unspecified “saboteurs” with some local legislators claiming the perpetrators are broadly coordinated by Kyiv. Western intelligence assessments, however, suggest Moscow realizes the devastating effects of these attacks on a geographic point it previously considered a safe zone for moving critical supplies and personnel from its mainland into occupied Ukraine.
“Russian commanders will highly likely be increasingly concerned with the apparent deterioration in security across Crimea, which functions as rear base area for the occupation,” British military intelligence concluded in an analysis on Wednesday.
The ammunition depot and airbase “are home to two of the most important Russian military airfields in Crimea,” the assessment added. “Dzhankoi is also a key road and rail junction that plays an important role in supplying Russia’s operations in southern Ukraine.”
The Institute for the Study of War wrote in an analysis note that the explosions “both caused significant damage to Russian resources and seriously disrupted Russian logistics.” The U.S.-based think tank, which has fastidiously tracked the movements of Moscow-backed forces since the invasion began on Feb. 24, said these hubs have served critical roles in moving Russian troops onto the peninsula for subsequent ground offensives, including for Melitopol, and that it had temporarily suspended passenger rail service from Russia to Crimea following the attack.
Russia’s public response aligns with these assessments of the damage the attacks have caused. Its Russian-language state news disseminated accusations about the explosions in line with its long-held propaganda efforts, claiming that the attack and subsequent explosions led to civilian casualties and widespread damage of local neighborhoods, and also that Russian tourists continue to flock to the traditional holiday destination, breaking new records for hotel occupancy since the beginning of the pandemic.
The Kremlin-backed leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said thousands of people evacuated from nearby villages and several homes burned down. He added, “detonations are rather strong. Ammunition is strewn all over the ground.”
Several analysts also observed that the attacks – if they were perpetrated by the Ukrainian government – would not violate Zelenskyy’s commitments to the Biden administration not to use any U.S.-provided military equipment for attacks on Russian territory, as Crimea remains, technically sovereign Ukrainian territory.
The attacks do, however, force Russia to reconsider territory it previously regarded as safe against enemy attacks, particularly as the war evolves from an invasion into an occupation.
Ukrainian officials said Russia had moved command posts back across the Dnipro River, which bisects much of Ukraine before flowing into the Black Sea to the east of Crimea at the strategic port city of Kherson. Yuri Sobolevsky, the first deputy head of the Ukrainian local government there, claimed that much of Russia’s military command structure had already left the city.
Tags: Russia, Ukraine
A collection of devastating explosions at key Russian army webweb sites at the occupied strategic peninsula have pressured the Kremlin to rethink territory it considers secure.
The Kremlin seems deeply involved approximately the a success sabotage of Russian ammunition and logistics hubs in Crimea throughout what appearance to be an increasing number of brazen Ukrainian commando raids.
Both Russia and Ukraine showed on Tuesday explosions at a Russian airfield at the severely strategic peninsula that Moscow first annexed in 2014 in addition to at an ammunition depot in its D.zhankoi district. Widely disseminated social media posts confirmed large plumes of black smoke emanating from the depot as stay rounds cooked off, developing secondary explosions
The Ukrainian authorities changed into conspicuously tight-lipped – even coy – approximately the perpetrators of the assault, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his day by day cope with caution his fellow residents towards visiting near Russian army installations at the peninsula. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote in a cryptic tweet early Wednesday, “According to the insider information, a hearthplace from cigarette butts at the territory of Crimea came about close to a bowling club. Lucky strike!” in what a few taken into consideration an allusion to the Russian army base. Ukrainian officers have formerly attributed unfavourable explosions at Russian army centers to its soldiers’ carelessness with lit cigarettes.
Zelenskyy handiest noted Crimea generally, thanking those “who oppose the occupiers.” But unnamed Ukrainian officers advised numerous information shops past due Tuesday that elite commando gadgets done the operations.
Russia simply attributed the assault to unspecified “saboteurs” with a few nearby legislators claiming the perpetrators are extensively coordinated via way of means of Kyiv. Western intelligence tests, however, advise Moscow realizes the devastating outcomes of those assaults on a geographic factor it formerly taken into consideration a secure quarter for shifting important components and employees from its mainland into occupied Ukraine.
“Russian commanders will tremendously probable be an increasing number of involved with the obvious deterioration in safety throughout Crimea, which capabilities as rear base region for the occupation,” British army intelligence concluded in an evaluation on Wednesday.
The ammunition depot and airbase “are domestic to 2 of the maximum critical Russian army airfields in Crimea,” the evaluation added. “Dzhankoi is likewise a key avenue and rail junction that performs an critical position in presenting Russia’s operations in southern Ukraine.”
The Institute for the Study of War wrote in an evaluation be aware that the explosions “each prompted enormous harm to Russian assets and severely disrupted Russian logistics.” The U.S.-primarily based totally assume tank, which has carefully tracked the actions of Moscow-subsidized forces because the invasion started on Feb. 24, stated those hubs have served important roles in shifting Russian troops onto the peninsula for next floor offensives, together with for Melitopol, and that it had briefly suspended passenger rail provider from Russia to Crimea following the assault.
Russia’s public reaction aligns with those tests of the harm the assaults have prompted. Its Russian-language nation information disseminated accusations approximately the explosions in step with its long-held propaganda efforts, claiming that the assault and next explosions caused civilian casualties and sizable harm of nearby neighborhoods, and additionally that Russian vacationers maintain to flock to the conventional vacation destination, breaking new facts for motel occupancy due to the fact that the start of the pandemic.
The Kremlin-subsidized chief of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, stated heaps of human beings evacuated from close by villages and numerous houses burned down. He added, “detonations are instead strong. Ammunition is strewn all around the floor.”
Several analysts additionally found that the assaults – in the event that they had been perpetrated via way of means of the Ukrainian authorities – could now no longer violate Zelenskyy’s commitments to the Biden management now no longer to apply any U.S.-furnished army device for assaults on Russian territory, as Crimea remains, technically sovereign Ukrainian territory.
The assaults do, however, pressure Russia to rethink territory it formerly seemed as secure towards enemy assaults, in particular because the conflict evolves from an invasion into an occupation.
Ukrainian officers stated Russia had moved command posts again throughout the Dnipro River, which bisects lots of Ukraine earlier than flowing into the Black Sea to the east of Crimea on the strategic port town of Kherson. Yuri Sobolevsky, the primary deputy head of the Ukrainian nearby authorities there, claimed that lots of Russia’s army command shape had already left the town.
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