A fireplace within the oil reserves in preparation for the counterattack

Information

by Isabelle Kane

April 30, 2023 | 3:11 p.m

The large fireplace that broke out at one of many oil reserves in Russian-occupied Sevastopol on Saturday was an assault on Russian logistics and a part of Ukraine’s “preparations” for a significant counterattack.

Russia’s operations in Crimea have been undermined within the offensive, a navy official stated Sunday because the Ukrainian navy places collectively a hotly anticipated spring offensive.

“This motion is preparation for a large-scale, large-scale offensive that everybody is anticipating,” Natalia Homenyuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated. For Ukraineska Pravda.

Mikhail Razvogaev, the Moscow-appointed governor of the port metropolis of Sevastopol, posted movies and images of an enormous black cloud of smoke rising above the flames to his Telegram channel on Saturday morning.

The top of the unlawful Russian occupation authorities in Sevastopol later claimed {that a} drone assault induced a large-scale fireplace within the Kozacha Bay oil reserves.

A gasoline tank on fireplace close to Manganari Brothers Road in Kozacha Bay space. In line with preliminary data, the hearth was brought on by a drone strike.

Razovugayev stated that the hearth was thought of essentially the most harmful when it comes to the problem of controlling the massive flames.

He later wrote on Telegram {that a} drone managed to trigger the massive fireplace, which was put out by Saturday night.

Specialists on the scene decided that just one drone made it to the ability, whereas the wreckage of a second airplane was discovered on the seaside close to the station.

After the hearth, the households of the Russian navy started evacuating residents from the occupied peninsula. This was reported by the Kyiv Impartial newspaper.

Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian navy intelligence official, stated greater than 10 oil tanks destined for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed in Sevastopol.

Nevertheless, Yusov didn’t declare that Ukraine was accountable for Saturday’s eruption, however stated the eruption was “God’s punishment” for Friday’s Russian missile and drone assaults throughout a number of Ukrainian cities.

These assaults resulted within the killing of at the least 25 individuals, six of whom had been youngsters.

Razovugayev stated nobody was injured within the fireplace and that the assault wouldn’t have an effect on the gasoline provide in Sevastopol.

The day earlier than, Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that Ukraine’s preparations for the anticipated counterattack had been “coming to an finish” with the military finishing its coaching with weapons offered by Ukraine’s Western allies.

“The gear has been introduced, geared up and partially delivered. There may be gear on which the coaching packages are of their ultimate stage. The crews will arrive (in Ukraine) with it when the time and place are decided,” Reznikov stated throughout a press convention on Friday.

“However let’s put it this fashion: we’re prepared at a excessive fee,” he stated.

The Normal Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine takes the choice on when and the place to launch the counterattack.

Ukraine has been counterattacking for months, hoping that retaking its territory, together with Crimea, which Russia has illegally occupied since 2014, will quickly finish the battle.