Cleansing from the Russian presence: Oleshchuk on the explosions at the Belbek airfield
During the day on January 31, a series of explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The loudest was in Sevastopol, in the Sak district, Yevpatoria, and the village of Razdolnoye.
In addition, there were explosions near the Belbek airfield, where a fire later broke out. Read more about the explosions in Crimea in the article on Fakty ICTV.
Explosions near the Belbek airfield
Lieutenant General and Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk indirectly confirmed Ukraine’s involvement in the strikes on the Belbek airfield in Crimea.
– Did you know that the Ukrainian Air Force includes the 204th Sevastopol Tactical Aviation Brigade? Well, its regular home base is the Belbek airfield! Ukrainian aviators will definitely return home to their home airfield. In the meantime, I thank everyone who contributed to the cleansing of Crimea from the Russian presence,” he wrote.
A fire broke out near the Belbek airfield after the explosions. A column of smoke could be seen in the sky, according to the Telegram channel Krymsky Vetr.
According to Russian public information, three planes were lost at the Belbek airfield – two Su-27s and one Su-30. Two of them were seriously damaged, but allegedly they can still be repaired. And one plane was completely destroyed because a missile hit it directly.
It is also reported that 12 Russian soldiers were killed at the Belbek airfield and near it, and more than 10 occupants were wounded.
What is known about the explosions in Sevastopol on January 31
Explosions occurred in the area of Sevastopol
– Crimea, hello. Enemy air defense is working in the area of Sevastopol,” Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on Telegram.
The Russian governor of annexed Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that Russians allegedly repelled a massive attack on the city, shooting down more than six missiles. According to him, there were no casualties.
– According to preliminary data, 12 buildings in the Ust-Belbek garden society were damaged by falling debris. The damage is minor: glass was broken, fences were damaged, etc.,” he wrote.
The air raid alert in Sevastopol, which began at 15:32, was canceled only at 18:22.
Photo: Google Maps
Explosions in Dzhankoy
According to Telegram publics, explosions were also reported in Dzhankoy.
Photo: Google Maps
According to preliminary information, Russian air defense was triggered.
Local communities, citing eyewitnesses, reported that missiles were launched in the direction of Kherson in parallel with the explosions.
Explosions in Saki and Yevpatoriya
The sounds of explosions were also reported in the area of Yevpatoriya and the neighboring town of Saki.
According to local residents, an explosion was heard in the Yevpatoria district near the town of Saki.
– We heard an explosion, possibly of air defense. We could hear it clearly from the city, said a local resident.
Explosions in the area of Razdolnoye
Sounds similar to explosions were also heard in the village of Razdolnoye in the north of the occupied peninsula.
– “Someone is making a loud noise here,” a local resident told Suspilne Krym.
No details were given about the explosions.
Crimean bridge is blocked
According to the Russian operational channel, which reports on the status of the Crimean bridge, traffic across the Kerch bridge was temporarily blocked at about 15:14 on January 31.
– “Those who are on the bridge and in the inspection area are asked to remain calm and follow the instructions of transport security officers,” the information center said.
As of 20:00, there were 226 vehicles in line to cross the bridge from Taman. The occupiers say that people will have to wait in line for at least an hour.
As a reminder, on January 30, explosions occurred in Sevastopol at dawn. Explosions were also heard in the Saki district.
You can watch live where air raid sirens have been activated in Ukraine on the interactive map of air raid alarms on Fakty ICTV.
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