Russia blames Ukraine for drone attack on Crimea oil depot

Europe, News April 30, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

A drone attack on a Russian-controlled fuel storage facility in the Crimean port of Sevastopol resulted in a massive fire on April 29, 2023.

Russia-appointed officials in the Crimean Peninsula have blamed Ukrainian forces for carrying out a drone attack on the fuel storage facility.

Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev shared the photos of the ablaze site on the Telegram messaging app, stating that the fuel storage facility was targeted using attack drones, however, “only one drone was able to reach the oil reservoir.” He said that the second drone was shot down by the Russian air defense systems and its wreckage was found on the shore near the terminal.

Razvozhayev said that the flame has been contained adding that it was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. No one was injured during the attack and the fire that followed it.

Crimea’s governor Sergei Aksyonov said that the fuel storage facility was attacked using four drones. He said that “two enemy drones” were targeted toward four oil tanks that are now burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means.

*^{A view of the fire at the oil depot in Sevastopol, on April 29, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter/Mil.in.ua)}*

The attack on Sevastopol fuel storage facility comes a day after Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles and two drones in Ukraine, resulting in at least 23 deaths. Two of the missiles hit an apartment building in the city of Uman, located in central Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of several residents.

Although Ukraine has not accepted responsibility for the recent drone attack in Sevastopol, experts believe that it could be part of Ukrainian forces’ counteroffensive against Russia’s increasing missile attacks.

An official from the Ukrainian Military Intelligence, Andriy Yusov, described the fire as a “God’s punishment” for the Russian strike on a Ukrainian a day before that also caused the death of at least six children.

Massive fire at oil depot in the city of Sevastopol in Crimea after suspected drone attack. Russia blames Ukraine for the attack. pic.twitter.com/CTrfiLz48Z
— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) April 29, 2023

“This punishment will be long-lasting. In the near future, it is better for all residents of temporarily occupied Crimea not to be near military facilities and facilities that provide for the aggressor’s army,” a Ukrainian news agency quoted Yusov as saying.

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian armed forces said he did not have any information to suggest Ukraine was responsible for the fire for the drone attack or the fire in Sevastopol.

The city and port of Sevastopol have come under several attacks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022. It is home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is playing a key role in carrying out the invasion on the southern fronts. Kyiv has repeatedly shown intentions to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula which was annexed by Russia after an invasion in 2014.