Fires break out at Belbek airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea after overnight missile strikes
Fires broke out at the Belbek airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea following a missile attack overnight on May 15, the Crimean Wind monitoring channel reported, sharing satellite imagery showing the sources of ignition.
Fires at the airport were recorded near the runway and aircraft parking areas, Crimean Wind said.
Read also: Ukrainian missile hits secret Russian air defense in Crimea
An hour after the attack, the fires were growing and additional fires were recorded near the aircraft parking lots.
Locals heard explosions, followed by sounds similar to the detonation of ammunition, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Crimean Wind said.
The second attack lasted until 2:35 a.m. Explosions were heard in Yevpatoriya and the Bakhchisarai district.
Russians "repelled a massive attack" on Sevastopol, the so-called "governor of Sevastopol" Mikhail Razvozhayev claimed earlier on May 13.
He spoke about falling shrapnel on a residential section following the "work of air defense", though he claimed there were no casualties.
Read also: Ukrainian missile strikes damage Russian military sites in Crimea
The 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force is stationed at the Belbek Airfield in Crimea. The regiment has 12 Su-27 aircraft, 12 Su-27SM aircraft, three Su-27UB, and five Su-30M2 aircraft.
The Sevastopol Aviation Rescue Center of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry is also located at the airfield.
Satellite images for March 31 showed that at least 30 Russian aircraft were at the airfield at the time of the attack.
Ukraine's Defense Forces attacked a communication center at the Belbek airfield on January 31. The Air Force said at least three planes were hit.
Ten Russians were killed in the strike, including Lieutenant General Aleksandr Tatarenko, Russian media alleged, though Ukraine's Armed Forces has not confirmed the allegation.
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