Russian oil terminal detonates into 200ft flames after long-range Ukrainian missile strike
The key oil installation in Crimea has been burning for days since Ukraine reportedly struck the Russian facility with US-provided long-range missiles.
A huge new explosion hit a vast oil terminal in Russian-controlled Crimea which has been burning for more than four days.
Footage shows a tower of flames almost 200ft high, after the latest eruption.
The Marine Oil Terminal in Feodosia was originally targeted by Ukraine to coincide with Vladimir Putin’s 72nd birthday on Tuesday.
It has been burning ever since but the explosions are getting worse, not better.
The new column of fire appeared as Russia’s FSB detained a man, 30, who was accused of providing details of military targets to the Ukrainian secret services in Feodosia.
This included naval shipping.
Under questioning, he said he wanted to stop Russia from firing Kalibr missiles at residential targets in Ukraine.
The Russians believed they had contained the Feodosia inferno but it has not ignited again amid fears it will be totally destroyed.
Originally reported as a drone strike, it appears instead to have been hit by two ATACMS long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine by the US.
The Putin-appointed governor of occupied Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said the emergency and security services were on hand.
“The terminal is surrounded by employees of the relevant services, and all the managers are also on-site,” he said.
“I am personally monitoring the situation, receiving reports from the scene via video link every half hour.”
The strike in Crimea’s largest oil terminal is a blow to Russia since it plays a key role in supplying Putin's armed forces.
People were evacuated from the vicinity.
Ukraine has in recent days also hit an airport in Krasnodar region, and a massive stash of Iranian kamikaze drones - supplied by Iran to Russia.
