The Russian Aerospace Forces suffered losses in combat aircraft as a result of explosions at an air base in Crimea.

The Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russia lost nine aircraft on August 9.

Yuriy Ihnat, Spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, shared that 10 Russian warplanes might potentially have been destroyed at the base near Novofedorivka.

Judging by the explosions, as a result of the attack on the Saky airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea, a warehouse of aviation weapons was damaged as a serious detonation took place.

“In any case, a disabled airfield is very good. And if additionally a dozen planes are destroyed there, it will be a real victory in general. Airfields are an extremely important thing that needs to be demilitarized,” Ihnat explained.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQyWLMCkksE

At this base, the Russians mainly stationed Su-30SM multirole fighters, Su-24MR tactical reconnaissance aircraft, Il-76 military transport aircraft, and other planes.

Aircraft departing from Novofedorivka were launching missile strikes on Ukraine. They were also launching anti-radar missiles to suppress Ukrainian air defenses.

The explosions in Novofedorivka in occupied Crimea could have happened due to the actions of Ukrainian special forces and resistance groups.

In addition to the aircraft, the parking lot of the air base personnel’s vehicles was also destroyed.

At the same time, the Russians claim that the explosions were caused by a fire at an ammunition depot. The occupation authorities of Crimea report one person to be dead after the incident.

Investigative journalists from the “Scheme” Radio Liberty media released the satellite photos of the airfield, taken a few hours prior to the explosion.

This air base is one of the key airfields of the Crimean Peninsula for Russian aviation. Until 2014, it was a base of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.