Explosions damage Russian planes

Despite Russian statements to the contrary, satellite images showed at least seven warplanes destroyed at a base in Crimea and other damaged aircraft. One person died, several others suffered wounds, and numerous tourists fled in a panic after a chain of explosions at the Saki Air Base sent up plumes of smoke over a nearby beach Tuesday. Russia said a discarded cigarette from a careless smoker set fire to some ammunition, which then caused the explosions. Analysts say that Ukraine could have used an anti-ship missile to carry out an attack on the airbase.

Why the tap dance around the attack’s cause? The Kremlin annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Russian forces have used the air base as a launching point for airstrikes on targets in the south of Ukraine. Moscow has conditioned ending hostilities with Ukraine on its acceptance that Crimea is a part of Russia, and Ukraine has promised that it will free Crimea from occupation.

Dig deeper: Read Jill Nelson’s report from the WORLD archives about Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine.