Crimea air base damaged in attackvisible in video and satellite imagery

After about 50 minutes both capture two powerful explosions at the base, which put an end to the alleged attack declared by Ukraine that at least one people and 13 others were injured, according to Russian officials. Explosions left least eight military airplane destroyed or significantly damaged and destroyed parts of object according to defense sources, military analytics and review of satellite pictures. If Ukraine were responsible, attack would one of this is the most daring of war, playing out in front of residents and tourists deep into the Crimea, which Russia captured in 2014.

To better understand what happened in Saki, The Washington Post analyzed more more than two dozen videos, spoke with eyewitnesses and consulted with eight military and geospatial experts confirming that at least six explosions shook the base over well of almost an hour.

This was stated by anonymous Ukrainian officials. attack carried out country special forces or guerrillas known as “guerrillas” but provided few details. The resistance fighters were active in Kherson bordering Crimea. north where they were accused for murders.

BUT senior Pentagon official on On Friday, journalists were told that Ukraine had chosen a target and that the Defense Ministry had not determined which weapons were used. BUT news article on Pentagon website does not attribute attack to Ukraine.

Russia said the incident was the result of an accidental explosion. of ammunition in place – a theory that The Post’s analysis does not support rule out. The head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, raised the level of the terrorist threat to “yellow’but didn’t comment on potential participation of Ukraine.

Ukraine vague explanations inspired various theories from analystsincluding this special The forces planted explosive charges at the base or used drones to fire or put bombs, or that country military used precision weapons with a range outside of systems known to work.

Experts say The Post’s analysis raises questions about how Any attack was carried out, and whether secondary explosions helped him caused due to fires at the base.

“Question remains: How much of these explosions were caused independent events compared to a chain effect of an initial explosion of a munition or fuel which then engulfs another fuel of the munition or fire? said Dara Massicot, senior policy researcher at Rand Corp.

‘ sky resin black’

The Post synced videos and shared images on social media confirming at least half-a dozen explosions in Saki air base. Witnesses tell The Post what they heard more.

Shortly before 15:20 Abbasov filmed smoke from first explosion identified by The Post. “It just hit So hard – It made my bed is shaking says in video. personnel matches Accounts of other witnesses, as well as a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense saying that “several aircraft munitions exploded in a closed warehouse” at approximately 15:20.

Andreeva, an influential person, filmed this initial explosion and posted edited video showing multiple explosions as well with her reactions on Instagram.

A few minutes later another explosion was recorded. One video taken north of base, briefly captures small flash. Less than second later, a fireball erupts, then turns into a mushroom cloud. Post office confirmed the order of explosions by examining the smoke and confirming the time with several witnesses.

Residents and beachgoers in Novofedorovka filmed the same explosion.

Photographer Dmitry Filatov was on home in Novofedorovka, when he began to hear the rumble. After the second left verify on his grandfather, who lives near air base. “On the way back the third explosion occurred when I was passing by a neighbor building”, Filatov told The Post. “The shock wave blew windows out in in building and they flew towards us”.

At 15:44 Abbasov photographed small cloud rising out of bed of smoke, which he described as aftermath of another explosion. Video filmed from a nearby apartment building building caught the same cloud as a separate explosion.

Around 16:11 Abbasov wrote down aftermath of two powerful explosions. Post analysis of other shots shows few explosions of a second separately, offering one you can have triggered the other, known as the sympathetic burst, according to Justin Bronk, senior research Fellow, Royal United Services Institute.

Andreeva also stripped off dual explosions and confirmed that they took place around 4:11 pm. “They are getting louder and louder,” she said. says in her video on instagram. ” sky resin black”. Other videos show two fireballs turning into smoke and rise in sky.

Satellite images studied by The Post confirm extensive damage in at least four locations at a base that analysts said was likely used for storage. it also showed that the fires flared up at the base and crawled towards Novofedorovka. The planes were damaged despite being parked inside protective walls known as guardrails. Analysts say that, despite heavy losses, the airfield remains functional. Videos and photos examined by The Post showed that out windows and damaged homes in city.

Experts consulted by The Post agreed that no article of the evidence comprehensively explained what happened on Tuesday. But video and satellite analysis provide clues.

Massicot, who studied images taken in May, she said found that the base regularly stored ammunition or other supplies near or in aircraft parking, vulnerability says Ukraine could notice.

“Aiming storage safety problems, whatever caused this explosion was able to cause significant damage fixedfighter wing,” she said.

In an assessment released on Friday, British Ministry of Defense stated that he did not confirm original cause of explosions”, but that “large mushroom clouds visible in eyewitness videos were almost certainly from the detonation of up up to four open ammunition depots.

Bronk said there was a delay between explosions at the base made it is unlikely that the missiles were responsible for all damage. BUT more a plausible scenario, he said, was that Ukrainian forces were close enough to launch the drones and could either drop small ammo or fly directly at the target, causing more powerful explosions. “You can almost imagine bad damage control,” he said.

Mark F. Kanchian, senior consultant at the center for Strategic and international studies, claimed aircraft damage in the fences suggested they could be targeted. Analysis carried out defense intelligence provider Jaynes also appreciated that air the base was likely hit by “relatively large ordnance”.

Base over 140 miles from the nearest front line, and Kanchian admitted that none of what was used by Ukraine explains what happened at the airfield. Not available video show shells moving to the base.

“All of indicators are not lead in one direction’, Kanchian told The Post. – It’s such a mystery.

Attar Mirza contributed to this report.