Crimean oil terminal blaze: Residents ill, Ukraine blamed
A fire has been raging for five days at the largest oil terminal in Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014. The attack, attributed to Ukrainian forces, caused significant damage. Authorities installed by Moscow reassure that there is no public health threat, even though residents report health issues.
The fire started at the beginning of the week following a drone attack. According to reports from the "Krymskij Wietier" channel on Telegram on Thursday, another fuel tank exploded.
Assurances from authorities and residents' complaints
Despite the services' claims that there are no elevated levels of harmful substances in the air, residents of the surrounding areas complain of nausea, dizziness, and coughing. The independent Russian service "Moscow Times" reported this information.
In response, more than a thousand residents were evacuated, and local authorities declared a state of emergency.
Attack on the Feodosia terminal
On Monday morning, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced an attack on the terminal in Feodosia, the largest oil terminal in Crimea, regarding oil product handling. The Russian military strategically uses this terminal. A similar attack occurred in March.
The Ukrainians did not specify what exactly they used to strike the Russian terminal; however, it is worth noting that Kyiv has long possessed many drones capable of striking strategic targets of the Russian Federation located hundreds of kilometres away. Among the models used are the Tu-141 "Strizh," Tu-143 "Reys," UJ-22 "Airborne," Bóbr," and Rubaka.
Ukrainian drones, such as the Tu-141 "Strizh," can carry significant explosive payloads over long distances. The Tu-141 reaches speeds of up to 1,000 km/h (approximately 620 mph) and has a range of up to 1,000 km (approximately 620 miles). The Tu-143 "Reys" is a smaller, tactical drone designed for reconnaissance missions, with a speed of 950 km/h (approximately 590 mph) and a range of 180 km (approximately 112 miles).
The UJ-22 "Airborne" is a modern unmanned aerial system developed by Ukraine, notable for its precision and capability to carry a variety of armaments. It has a controlled flight range of up to 100 km (approximately 62 miles) and an autonomous range of up to 800 km (approximately 500 miles). "Bóbr" is equipped with advanced stealth technologies that increase its difficulty in detection. "Rubaka" is a versatile drone with extensive combat and logistical applications.
