Russia burning as new satellite photos show massive fire at key Crimea oil hub
Following Ukrainian strikes across the occupied Crimean Peninsula, new satellite imagery appears to show excessive damage to a key Russian oil store.
The Ukrainian armed forces have claimed responsibility for a drone strike which has sparked a huge fire at the largest Russian-controlled oil processing depot in Crimea.
An initial fire is understood to have broken out at the Feodosia terminal in the early hours of Monday morning and satellite images published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty now show a strong blaze has taken hold of the structure.
Feodosia’s mayor Igor Tkachenko has since confirmed more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the surrounding city, although no casualties have been reported.
Russian authorities in the occupied region have challenged Ukraine’s claims, instead arguing the fire is due to a “technical failure” within the oil depot and reporting the Russian Defence Ministry was able to successfully intercept incoming drones.
The fire follows a wave of Ukrainian military operations targeting Russian-occupied energy facilities and military bases in a bid to disrupt supplies to Vladimir Putin’s armed forces.
The shift in Ukrainian military strategy is also a form of retaliation for consistent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s water and energy infrastructure.
In another attack on Tuesday, Ukrainian forces struck an arms depot in Bryansk, just across the Russian border.
Kyiv claimed the facility stored ammunition, including supplies delivered from North Korea, although Russian and North Korean authorities have strenuously denied trading weapons between the two countries.
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On Thursday morning, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerow touched down in London to meet with UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
In an address on Wednesday, President Zelensky affirmed the need for international support, specifically calling on the US, Britain and other European nations to continue backing Ukraine.
In draft budget proposals submitted by President Putin’s government, the Kremlin has outlined plans to increase defence spending by 25 percent.
The UK Ministry of Defence acknowledged the documents “demonstrate Russia’s continued prioritisation of financing the war over other domestic priorities”.
