Ukraine denies responsibility for Crimea airbase explosions

Lviv/Moscow, Aug 10 (EFE).- Ukraine has denied any responsibility for the explosions that rocked a military airbase on the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula, Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Wednesday.

The powerful blasts that sent large clouds of smoke in the town of Novofedorivka on Tuesday killed at least one person and injured 13 others, according to the latest figures from the Crimean health ministry.

“What do we have to do with it? These are probably compensatory mechanisms of inefficient management within the Russian Federation’s armed forces,” Podolyak said, answering local media’s questions.

Podolyak pointed out that the series of explosions might have been caused by the detonation of ammunition or the negligent performance of duty in the Russian army.

He also suggested that partisans, who want Crimea liberated, could have been involved.

“Could it have 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,” he explained.

Russia occupied and annexed the Black Sea peninsula in 2014 but has not received international recognition yet.

In a nightly video address, Zelenskyy said that the war with Russia would not end until Crimea was liberated.

“Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up,” Zelenskyy stressed.

“This Russian war against Ukraine and against entire free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea – with its liberation,” he added.EFE

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