Fire Breaks Out Near Ammunition Storage Area at Hvardiiske Airbase in Temporarily Occupied Crimea

A fire broke out near an ammunition storage area at the Hvardiiske airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea, according to the monitoring project Crimean Wind on August 16.

The project reported that fire hotspots were also detected near areas where aircraft are stationed, citing data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System and eyewitness accounts.

According to Crimean Wind at around 4:30 p.m. local time, residents reported seeing at least one drone flying in the vicinity of the airbase, followed by artillery-like sounds and an explosion in the direction of the facility.

Hvardiiske is one of Russia’s key military airbases in temporarily occupied Crimea. The base supports tactical and naval aviation, including aircraft deployment, combat missions, logistical operations, and maintenance.

The airbase has previously been targeted by Ukrainian forces. On July 5, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the facility alongside two road bridges and three ammunition depots in other Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

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War in Ukraine

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Meanwhile, Moscow has expanded the construction of aircraft shelters at 14 military airfields, including several in occupied Crimea, apparently seeking to provide greater protection for its aircraft.

Open-source intelligence analyst Def Mon documented the construction through satellite imagery. According to the analyst, work on the hardened shelters began in fall 2024 and has since expanded to 14 airfields, including facilities in Kirovske, Sevastopol, Hvardiiske, and Saky in temporarily occupied Crimea.

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