Explosions in Crimea in the Ukraine war - Russia weakened?
Created: 08/20/2022, 17:45
By: Caroline Schäfer
Crimea was increasingly the target of drone attacks in the Ukraine war.
Explosions rocked the peninsula.
Could that weaken Russia's advance?
Kyiv – The ongoing Ukraine war continues to bring suffering, destruction and death.
An end does not seem to be in sight for the time being.
According to information from the British secret service on Saturday (August 20), there were hardly any changes at the front.
This will probably remain the case for the time being.
But there is still some movement.
The Ukrainian defenders now seem to have decided to change strategy.
The
New York Times
reported that Kiev's military expanded its fighting deeper into Russian-controlled territory on Friday (August 19).
In this context, the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, has become the theater of war.
Smoke billows from an explosion on Saky Beach.
Ammunition exploded at a Russian airbase on Russia's annexed Crimea peninsula in the Black Sea.
© dpa
Ukraine War: Explosions in Crimea - plumes of smoke become visible
There were repeated explosions on the Black Sea peninsula on Saturday morning.
Among other things, Russian ammunition depots are said to have been destroyed.
Smoke could also be seen over the Bakhchisaray airfield.
Kyiv will attack targets in Crimea as part of a "gradual demilitarization of the peninsula and its subsequent de-occupation," said Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine's National Security Council, on Friday.
But who is behind the attacks on Crimea on Saturday remains a mystery for the time being.
Ukraine has denied its involvement, calling Russia's allegations a "provocation."
It is also unclear whether Ukraine's strategic change can weaken Russia's combat capability in the long term.
Because according to the
Times
, Russia still has a military advantage, despite isolated setbacks.
The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope
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Ukraine war: Attacks on Crimea "symbolic"
Paula J. Dobriansky, a former US diplomat specializing in national security affairs, told the newspaper the symbolic nature of the threat to Crimea.
Christopher Miller, a professor of international history at Tufts University's Fletcher School, explained that the peninsula is now not free from attack.
"From a Russian point of view, Crimea was a closed topic." This is no longer the case.
"Certainly, Ukraine is not threatening an immediate recapture of Crimea," Miller said.
But Russia can no longer feel safe there for the time being.
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The blasts in Crimea came amid tensions surrounding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Both countries accused each other of carrying out attacks there.
(cheese)
