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Russian soldier at Belbek airfield in 2014: explosions recorded
Photo: BAZ RATNER/ REUTERS
A plane has apparently crashed while landing at a military airfield on the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia.
Videos are circulating on Twitter that are said to show clouds of dark smoke over the Belbek airbase near the city of Sevastopol.
Another video shows the following smaller explosions.
This is possibly detonating ammunition.
The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Rasvozhayev, appointed by Russia, writes on Telegram that according to rescue workers, a plane went off the runway on landing and caught fire.
A "partial ammunition explosion" was the result.
The pilot was able to save himself.
The fire brigade extinguished the fire, the airfield was not damaged.
It is not known what kind of aircraft it is.
Ukrainian military targeted Russian bases
The Ukrainian military has already struck several times at Russian Air Force bases in Crimea.
In August, for example, the military airport near Saki in Crimea was attacked.
The Belbek military airport near Sevastopol is considered one of the most important for the Russian military.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.
Following the model, Moscow is now attempting to annex four more Ukrainian regions.
Russia controls them only partially.
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