Ukraine conflict: Before and after satellite images show damage to airbase in Russian-ruled Crimea
Satellite images show the scale of the damage at a Crimea airbase following explosions earlier this week.
Explosions were reported at the the Saky base in the west of Russian-ruled Crimea on Tuesday, with Ukraine’s air force claiming at least nine Russian aircraft were destroyed on the ground.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility - but the images suggest the possibility of a targeted attack.
While the runway is intact – a significant amount of damage has been carried out, with planes away from hangers hit.
Planet Labs have now released images showing before and after pictures.
Russia insists that the explosions were caused by ammunition exploding in a store because of fire safety rules being flouted.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the incident while Russia denied that any aircraft had been damaged. These new images suggest that is not true.
The British defence secretary, Ben Wallace, told the BBC the UK was still trying to establish facts on the airbase explosions, but added that he believed it was unlikely western weapons were involved. The airbase, he argued, was a legitimate target for Ukraine’s armed forces.
Crimea is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine - but the Black Sea peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014.
1. Before the explosion.
A satellite image by Planet Labs PBC shows aircraft at Saky Air Base before an explosion Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in the Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea peninsula seized from Ukraine by Russia and annexed in March 2014.
Photo: Planet Labs PBC
2. After the explosions at Saky Air Base
The destroyed Russian aircraft at Saky Air Base after an explosion Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's air force said Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea.
Photo: Planet Labs PBC
3. Before the explosions. A satellite image by Planet Labs PBC shows Saky Air Base
Images taken before show no damage, scorch marks or anything untoward.
Photo: Planet Labs PBC
4. After the blast
A zoom in on the Saky airbase on 10 August - after the explosions. Several damaged warplanes are visible as well as craters in the ground from blasts. Ukraine's air force said about a dozen Russian warplanes were destroyed, although Russia denied that any aircraft had been damaged.
Photo: After