Blasts have rocked a Russian air base near seaside resorts in the annexed Crimean peninsula, killing one person and injuring five, according to local authorities.
Local witnesses told Reuters they heard at least 12 explosions around 3:20pm local time (1220 GMT) from the Saky air base near Novofedorivka on Crimea’s western coast.
They described a final blast around 30 minutes later as the loudest.
Crimea has so far been spared the intense bombardment and artillery combat that have taken place in other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine since February 24, when President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian armed forces into Ukraine — including some based in the peninsula.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the “detonation of several aviation ammunition stores” had caused an explosion. . .
