Podoliak on explosions at military airfield in Crimea: What do we have to do with it?
Olena Roshchina – Tuesday, 9 August 2022, 22:22
Mykhailo Podoliak, Senior Adviser to Ukrainian President, said that Kyiv was not involved in the explosions at the airfield in Novofedorivka in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Source: Mykhailo Podoliak on air during "Dozhd" media broadcast and on Twitter
Quote: "Of course not. What do we have to do with it? These are probably compensatory mechanisms of inefficient management within the Russian Federation’s armed forces."
Details: Mykhailo Podoliak told a Russian TV channel that anything could have been a reason for the explosions on a spectrum from the detonation of ammunition – as Russian Ministry of Defence claims, – to negligent performance of duty in the Russian army.
Quote: "Could have it been someone representing the partisan movement that is gaining momentum? Sure, because people who have lived under occupation understand that the time of occupation is coming to an end and they need to show their position. This is because the reclaiming of [seized Crimea] is meant to happen."
Details: Mykhailo Podoliak also wrote on Twitter: "The demilitarisation of the Russian Federation is an integral part of ensuring global security. The future of the Crimean peninsula is to be a pearl of the Black Sea, a national park with unique nature and a world resort. Not a military base for terrorists. It's just the beginning."
Background
- On 9 August, explosions occurred at the military airbase in Novofedorivka, in the Saky district of Russian-occupied Crimea. Residents of Crimea shared videos on social networks showing at least two fire epicentres, and stated they heard from 7 to 12 explosions.
- Sergey Aksyonov, the representative of the Russian occupation regime in Crimea, claims that one person has been killed and six people have been injured as a result of the explosions.
- The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the fire broke out following the detonation of several pieces of aircraft ammunition. Later Russian state agency TASS reported a "violation of fire safety requirements" at the airfield near Novofedorivka.
- The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine stated it was not aware of what caused the explosions and the subsequent fire at the Saky airfield near Novofedorivka.
- The New York Times, citing a "high-ranking Ukrainian military officer," wrote that Ukrainian forces allegedly orchestrated the explosions at the airfield in occupied Crimea.
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