Satellite photos of a destroyed Russian airfield in the Sakhi region of occupied Crimea show widespread Russian fighter jets at the base. Capabilities shown to be damaged, suggesting that the Ukrainian offensive is escalating.
Images released Thursday by private imaging firm Planet Labs showed what appeared to be a precision strike on a base building and the charred ruins of at least eight of his fighter planes. .
Russian officials say dozens of explosions seen at the base on Tuesday were the result of stored ammunition igniting, denying reports that the aircraft was damaged. 11}
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have not officially claimed responsibility for the attack. He said the explosion was actually part of a counterattack.
An official not identified in the report said Ukrainian partisan fighters were involved in the strike, but did not comment on whether regular Ukrainian military units were also involved.
Not used against the base, except that "only Ukrainian-made equipment was used."
"Officially, we are neither affirming nor denying anything. There are numerous scenarios that could have happened...the epicenter of some of the explosions could not have been at all." Keep in mind it was at the same time," Podoljak told Reuters.
Western analysts see an apparent Ukrainian strike as Kyiv has new weapons on hand. viewed as a possible symptom.
Saki Airfield far exceeds the range of the rockets the United States has authorized to send to Kyiv for use in her US-made HIMARS launchers, but more than compatible with the system. Within range of advanced rockets.
It is also possible that Ukraine used some of its Ukrainian-made anti-ship missiles to attack ground targets.
Regardless of the method used, the attack on Crimea is widely seen as marking a new phase in the conflict, with the long-anticipated Ukrainian counterattack about to begin.
with post wire
