Vladimir Putin’s commanders will be “increasingly concerned” at security in Crimea after two strikes targeted key military bases, British defence chiefs said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian special forces were reported to have carried out at least one of the attacks which are believed to be aimed at hampering Russia’s efforts to re-supply its troops in southern Ukraine where they are being hit by a counter-offensive.
In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “On 16 August 2022, both Russian and Ukrainian officials acknowledged that an ammunition dump had exploded near Dzhankoi in northern Crimea, where a nearby railway and electricity sub-station were also likely damaged.
“Russian media also reported that smoke was rising from near Gvardeyskoye Airbase in the centre of the Crimea.”
It added: “Dzhankoi and Gvardeyskoye are home to two of the most important Russian military airfields in Crimea. Dzhankoi is also a key road and rail junction that plays an important role in supplying Russia’s operations in southern Ukraine.
“The cause of these incidents and the extent of the damage is not yet clear but 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.”
Russia has blamed saboteurs for explosions at the Dzhankoi military base on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
But Ukraine hinted it was responsible as its officials said their strategy was to destroy supply lines supporting Russia’s invasion.
The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian special forces were involved in the attack.
Ukraine did not confirm or deny responsibility for the explosions however Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told The Guardian later that Ukraine’s strategy was to destroy Russian “logistics, supply lines and ammunition depots and other objects of military infrastructure”.
He added: “It’s creating a chaos within their own forces.”
As Ukraine counter-attacks in the south, the explosions raised the prospect of new dynamics in the six-month-old war if Ukraine has capability to strike deeper in Russian-occupied territory or pro-Ukraine groups are having success with guerrilla-style attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to steer clear of Russian military bases and ammunition stores and said the explosions could have various causes, including incompetence.
“But they all mean the same thing - the destruction of the occupiers’ logistics, their ammunition, military and other equipment, and command posts, saves the lives of our people,” he said in an evening address.
An electricity substation also caught fire in yesterday’s blasts, according to footage on Russian state television. Seven trains were delayed and rail traffic on part of the line in northern Crimea had been suspended, Russia’s RIA news agency said.
