Ukrainian Air Force claims responsibility for the missile attack on Belbek Airport in Crimean Peninsula
9:30 AM EST, February 1, 2024, updated: 4:32 AM EST, March 7, 2024
An "unidentified" missile targeted the communication unit at Belbek Airport. The resulting fire from the strike engulfed roughly 322 square feet of the installation. According to initial reports, no casualties or injuries were reported, ASTRA confirmed, citing their internal sources.
On Wednesday, the commander of the Ukrainian air forces, General Mykola Oleshchuk, surmised that the attack on Belbek Airport was a Kyiv operation.
"Did you know that the 204th Sevastopol Tactical Aviation Brigade is a part of the Ukrainian air forces? Yes, and its home base is Belbek! Ukrainian pilots are sure to return to their airport. I want to extend my gratitude to all those contributing to liberating Crimea from the Russians," Oleshchuk posted on Telegram. He also shared a recording of the explosion's location.
The situation in occupied Crimea
Since August 2022, there have been regular reports of explosions in Crimea. Whenever Ukraine employs drone attacks, the occupying Russian administration usually asserts that the explosions are a result of anti-aircraft defense measures or the successful interception of inbound drones via electronic warfare systems.
The Kyiv authorities have become increasingly open about these operations. In August of the previous year, Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, confirmed that representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine participated in attacks on the bridge to Crimea in October 2022 and again in July 2023.
In September, the Ukrainian side admitted to, among other acts, shelling the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol and the city's shipyard, as well as targeted strikes on the Russian anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system S-400 Triumph near Yevpatoria.
Following a military intervention and an unlawful referendum in March 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine and the West deemed these actions by the Kremlin to be breaches of international law.
Sources: PAP, WP News
