Fire and explosions rock Russian-occupied Crimea’s Novofedorivka near Saky airfield

On the evening of July 26, there were explosions in Crimea, which is currently under Russian occupation. They could be heard in Yevpatoriia and Novofedorivka, where the Russian military has a base at the Saky airfield and in Simferopol. 

The Crimean Wind Telegram channel reports this, citing residents.

The Telegram channel reported approximately 13 explosions in the Novofedorivka region. Before this, local occupation authorities had issued an air raid warning and cautioned of the potential for drone attacks.

Additionally, residents have shared videos that allegedly depict a fire at the airfield, along with the activity of the Russian air defense. 

"The subscriber reports: at 02:41, there are already 13 powerful explosions, the rumble of rockets is heard, booming from all sides – from the side of Dobrushyne, on the side of Yevpatoriia, on the side of Novoozerne and somewhere far away, probably in Saky," the channel writes.

According to the Crimean Wind news source, the Saky airfield was reported to be ablaze, and explosions could be heard on site. Ambulances have been dispatched to the area.

"An ammunition depot was hit at the Saky airfield, our source reports: Air-to-air missiles in Saky flew into the air. Along with the jets," the message emphasized.

A Telegram channel called "Nikolaevsky Vanek" suggested that there were reports of multiple hotspots being targeted in Crimea that night. It seems that the aggressors were unable to respond to the attack, as no Russian SU-24 fighter jets were seen taking off (even though ammunition depots were located nearby).

"There were up to eight planes there. So there will be good news for a good and tasty detonation. We'll wait for the pictures, of course, but everything looks very good so far. Ballistic night parties in Crimea," he commented.

Also, according to OSINT resources, at least 16 enemy aircraft, including Su-30SM and Su-24, were stationed at this airfield.

Early in the morning, the Russian Telegram channel Astra reported, citing sources in the emergency services of temporarily annexed Crimea, that Ukraine's armed forces supposedly launched ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles overnight, targeting the Saky military airfield located near Novofedorivka.

After the missile strike, reports indicate that the ammunition was hit, causing a fire. Two members of the occupying army were wounded and received shrapnel injuries.

In addition, the sources of the Telegram channel reported that the ATACMS missile also hit the Russian air defense deployment site 5 km from the village of Shovkovychne in Saky district, destroying the radar station.

In total, according to Astra, Ukraine's armed forces hit Crimea with 4 ATACMS missiles, two of which were allegedly shot down.

After 7 a.m., Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov, who administers the thematic aviation channel Fighterbomber, confirmed the missile strike.

The Russians have not officially confirmed the attack, and the Ukrainian side has yet to comment on the incident.

For reference:

This is not the first time that Ukraine's armed forces have attacked the Saky military airfield in the occupied Crimea. On August 9, 2022, explosions rang out at the military airfield in Novofedorivka in Saky district.

Also, on July 20, 2023, in the temporarily occupied Crimea, residents heard explosions near two airfields.