Residents complain about the smell of burning
Explosions rock Sevastopol
September 17, 2023, 11:55 p.m
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Kiev speaks of three large and several small explosions in the center of the port city of Sevastopol. According to Russia, only Ukrainian drones were shot down. Residents of the Crimean city report a pervasive smell of burning. There are also explanations for this from the occupiers.
According to media reports, there were several explosions in the port city of Sevastopol on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. This is said to be a joint operation by the Ukrainian secret service and the Ukrainian Navy. Like the Ukrainian state news agency Suspilne citing Ukrainian military intelligence, the detonations heard in Sevastopol – where the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is located – are said to be the result of a “joint operation by the GUR and the Ukrainian Navy”.
“On Sunday evening, September 17, a powerful explosion occurred in the central part of temporarily occupied Sevastopol,” Suspilne wrote. Accordingly, residents are said to have heard explosions at around 8:15 p.m. – initially three large detonations and then several quieter detonations. According to local residents, the explosions took place in the south of the city towards Cape Fiolent.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, simply said: “Two Ukrainian drones were destroyed by anti-aircraft defenses over the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula.” Meanwhile, several Telegram channels published photos showing a fire glow over the city. Residents reported a strong smell of burning. According to the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvoshayev, no infrastructure objects were hit. Raswoshayev explained the smell of fire with a smoke screen that the Navy had used to provide visual protection against the drones. “Yes, the smell is unpleasant, but completely harmless,” he wrote on Telegram.
Crimean bridge closed
At the same time, there were reports that traffic at the Crimean Bridge had come to a standstill. According to the Russian state news agency RIA, the Crimean bridge was closed. “Vehicle traffic on the Crimean Bridge is temporarily closed,” says the RIA Telegram channel. The agency did not give a reason.
In the past few days, Ukraine has attacked targets in Crimea several times with drones and cruise missiles. Among other things, a shipyard and two warships were damaged; a day later, according to information from Kiev, a modern S-400 anti-aircraft unit was also destroyed. Russia has not yet confirmed the loss of the S-400. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for a good year and a half. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in violation of international law.