An explosion has been reported near a Russian military base in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, according to images shared on social media.

Russian soldiers at an ammunition depot in CrimeaPhoto: Kommersant photo agency / ddp USA / Profimedia

According to CNN, a senior Russian-appointed official in Crimea said that Ukraine most likely used a jet-powered drone known as Strizh in an attempt to strike an air base on the peninsula.

The assistant to the head of Crimea, Oleg Kryuchykov, also released pictures from the place of the likely fall of the downed drone, which show an impact in an open field.

However, unofficial channels of the Crimean social networks reported that a strong explosion rang out in the center of the neighboring city of Simferopol.

CNN previously reported that videos and social media posts indicated an explosion or fire at or near a Russian military airfield in Crimea.

Serhii Aksyonov, previously appointed by Russia as the head of Crimea, stated in his Telegram channel that “UAV [dronă] was shot down in the Simferopol area” and that “there are no losses and destruction”.

There were no official comments from Ukraine

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