An explosion occurred at a weapons depot in Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the explosion on Tuesday (August 16). According to the ministry, the military warehouse was heavily damaged due to sabotage. However, there were no casualties.

In addition, there has been an attack on a military air base in the Ziverdescoye area in the central part of Crimea. Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported that black smoke was seen rising from the airport.

According to Al Jazeera, the Russian state news agency RIA, the explosion took place at the military weapons warehouse in the Myskoi area, near the city of Zhangkoi in the northern part of Crimea, at around 6 am on Tuesday.

The cause of the explosion is not yet clear, but Russian officials have called it an act of sabotage. Last week there was an explosion at a Russian military base on the coast of Crimea. In addition to the destruction of 9 Russian warplanes, the Western media claimed that there was extensive damage. However, Ukraine did not comment on these events.

Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. In February of this year,

Russian forces started military operations in Ukraine. Russia then began using its bases in Crimea to take control of large swathes of southern Ukraine.

Last Tuesday (August 9) there was an explosion at a Russian airport in the Saki region of Crimea. Satellite images show that at least 9 warplanes have been destroyed with severe damage to the base.

The Russian side described the incident as an “accident”. The UK Ministry of Defense said the explosion had “significantly reduced” the flight capabilities of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea fleet.