The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed 9 Russian aircraft were destroyed in Crimea

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that 9 Russian aircraft were destroyed near Saky in Crimea, where powerful explosions occurred at the military airfield on August 9.

"Saky! Minus nine occupiers' aircraft," Ukrainian Air Force posted on its Facebook page, commenting on the total number of enemy losses over the past day.

The Air Force did not specify what caused the destruction of the aircraft. The day before, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported that it could not establish the cause of the fire, which led to explosions on the territory of the military airfield in Crimea.

The aircraft were taking off from Saky airfield almost every day, which helped the occupiers patrol the airspace near Ukraine around the clock, changing only the planes and crews, said Air Force Command spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

"Any airfield disabled is a good thing. And if a dozen planes stationed there is destroyed, it will be a real small victory," Ihnat said.

He added that from the video of the explosion, it is clear that an air weapons warehouse was hit in the Saky district because a strong detonation was caused. The spokesman says that Su-30 SM, Su-24, and Il-76 aircraft were stationed at the airfield.

Background

On August 9, several explosions were reported near the settlement of Novofedorivka in occupied Crimea on the territory of a military airfield.

Russia's Defence Ministry said that several air munitions detonated at the Saky airfield. Although The New York Times, citing a top Ukrainian military, says that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are behind the explosions in Crimea.

Evacuation of the population was announced in the Saky district. Russian media reported that some 30 buildings near the airfield were evacuated. The evacuees should be accommodated in boarding houses and hotels.

Russia also reported 12 wounded and 1 dead due to the explosions. The occupying "head" of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said that "the situation is localized and under control."