Explosions and thick smoke reported in Mariupol near airport
On Friday, explosions shook Mariupol, with clouds of smoke rising over the city, reported Petro Andriuszczenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian city's mayor. According to preliminary yet unconfirmed information, the explosion occurred in the airport.
On Friday (12th July) in the Russian-occupied Mariupol, there were massive explosions - most likely near the airport. Petro Andriuszczenko, an advisor to the mayor of the Ukrainian city, reported this on social media, posting a photo and a video showing clouds of thick smoke rising between apartment blocks.
Column of smoke and explosions in the airport area
"Mariupol. Loud! We are clarifying the details," wrote Andriuszczenko in a post on Telegram.
"Recently, Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnulin and the leader of the so-called DPR, Denys Pushilin, were there," stated the city council in a subsequent statement.
The Russian side has not yet officially commented on the matter. The occupiers only said that their air defence was activated. "Occupational sources claim that five HIMARS missiles were intercepted. But judging by the smoke, the reality is completely different," the Mariupol authorities commented.
In June, explosions were also recorded in Mariupol, and the occupiers claimed they were ballistic missile flights and air defence operations.
