A powerful attack on the Russian air base in occupied Crimea was carried out by Ukrainian special forces. This was reported on Friday, August 12, by the American newspaper The Washington Post, citing information provided on condition of anonymity by a certain Ukrainian official. He did not give details of the operation.

At least nine Russian military aircraft were destroyed at the base, according to a Ukrainian air force statement on Wednesday. If this information is confirmed, the losses at Saki will become the biggest losses the Russian Air Force suffered in one day. As a result, it will be more difficult for Moscow to attack Ukrainian cities.

Possible consequences for the Russian side

The attack could also increase the likelihood that it will be difficult for the Russians to maintain control over southern Ukraine in the long term.

If Crimea is vulnerable to further attacks, Russia will be forced to protect that part of the occupied territory of the peninsula, which the Kremlin considered inaccessible and felt safe there. There could also be supply problems, said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian defense minister and now head of the Center for Defense Strategies, an independent Ukrainian think tank.

There is only speculation as to what exactly caused the explosions at the base. Some military experts suspect the attack was carried out by a drone. It is possible that the UAV was sent by agents who were hiding near the base.

Another version put forward by experts is the planting of explosives by representatives of the resistance movement. The missile could have caused such damage, but there is no evidence that Ukraine has projectiles of the necessary range.

The Novofedorovka military airfield near the town of Saki, where the August 9 blasts took place, is more than 200 kilometers from the nearest front line and, according to US officials, no US weapons were used there. Thus, the use of MLRS HIMARS for attacks against objects in Crimea is excluded. But resistance fighters can play an important role in determining key targets, such as alignments and command posts, writes The Washington Post.

Airfield used for attacks on Ukraine

The Saki military airfield near the village of Novofedorovka is used as an airbase by the RF Ministry of Defense. Aircraft and helicopters, including naval aviation, are based here. In addition, there is a ground test training complex for the practice of taking off and landing naval aircraft.

According to Ukrainian media, the airfield was repeatedly used by aircraft that attacked the territory of Ukraine.