Ukrainian government officials told Politico that recent strikes on a Russian air base in Crimea “signal the start of a major counter-offensive” by Kyiv in southern Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s long-awaited counter-offensive begins with a wave from Crimea,” Politico notes, focusing on the explosions that occurred on Tuesday, August 9, at an airbase on the Crimean peninsula, which has been controlled by the Russians since 2014.

Moscow, for its part, chose to downplay the issue, claiming that the explosions (at least three, according to the Washington Post) were caused by munitions that accidentally detonated at the airport.

Kyiv, on the other hand, has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes, but has ridiculed the Russians for “smoking next to explosives.”

More “clearly” in his statements, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that “the Russian war against Ukraine began with Crimea and should end with Crimea – its liberation.”

For its part, a Ukrainian government spokesman told the Washington Post that Tuesday’s attack on a Russian air base in occupied Crimea was the work of Ukrainian intelligence agencies.

“The (Tuesday) attack is a major escalation after nearly six months of war, demonstrating a new Ukrainian ability to attack Russian forces deep in occupied territory,” the Washington Post continues in its article.

Ukrainian forces have been trying to regain control of the territory near their territory for several weeks now. Peninsulawhich fell into the hands of the Russians in the early days of the Russian invasion.

However, quoting two Ukrainian officials who wished to remain anonymous, Politico claims that the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the south is now beginning “in earnest” through Crimea.

A successful strike against a military target far behind Russian lines, and especially on the Crimean peninsula, would be very embarrassing for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who would most likely regard it as a dramatic escalation, as well as a blow to the morale of his troops, as it was said.

“The Kremlin has no reason to publicly accuse Ukraine of delivering strikes that caused damage, since such strikes would prove the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems, which, of course, has already revealed the sinking of the Russian flagship Moskva by Ukraine,” he notes. in the analysis of the American Institute for the Study of War.

A Ukrainian official told Politico that the months of august and september will be “very important” from a military point of viewand how they are likely to affect the final outcome of the war.

It is noted that, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, as a result of strikes on Saki air base near the city of Novofedorivka in Crimea on Tuesday, a total of nine Russian fighter jets were destroyed, which attacked Ukrainian targets.

Released satellite images show that more than 20 Russian fighter jets were based at the stricken air base.

Which plane was at the military training ground near Novofedorovka before the explosions?

This Crimean airfield, the explosions of which have never been reported on social networks, is one of the key Russian airports on the peninsula. pic.twitter.com/YwJ8SdgHdk

— Schemes (@cxemu) August 9, 2022

According to a related Politico article, Ukrainian forces have been systematically preparing for a counteroffensive on their territory since May. Peninsula And her Zaporozhye.

In this context, they target infrastructure near Kherson, which Russia is counting on to reinforce and resupply its army, while multiple rocket launchers also play an important role in the Ukrainian counterattack. HIMARS which Kyiv bought from the United States.

According to Politico, Washington Post.