Ukraine drone strike ignites five-day blaze at Crimea oil hub
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. The authorities installed by Moscow reassured that there was no public health threat, even though residents reported 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 clarifying 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 and has a range of up to 1,000 kilometres. The Tu-143 "Reys" is a smaller, tactical drone designed for reconnaissance missions, with a speed of 950 km/h and a range of 180 kilometres.
The UJ-22 "Airborne" is a modern unmanned aerial system developed by Ukraine. It is notable for its precision and capability to carry a variety of armaments. It has a controlled flight range of up to 100 kilometres and an autonomous range of up to 800 kilometres. Bóbr is equipped with advanced stealth technologies that increase its difficulty in detection. Rubaka is a versatile drone with extensive combat and logistical applications.
