Russia is building airplane shelters at Belbek airfield in Crimea: Ukrainian Navy reacts
Russia is building airplane shelters at Belbek airfield in Crimea (photo: Getty Images)
Russians have begun construction of reinforced shelters and other structures to protect aircraft at the Belbek airfield in the temporarily occupied Crimea, reports The War Zone.
The media outlet received satellite images of the Belbek air base near Sevastopol in occupied Crimea. They show new strong shelters for aircraft and additional buildings. They are likely to protect aircraft from drone attacks and other indirect fire.
According to The War Zone, such actions of the Russians indicate their desire to improve physical protection at the airfields.
The image from December 19 shows approximately 10 reinforced concrete shelters at various stages of construction at the airfield. They are located above the parking areas in the central part of the facility. Another structure, whose purpose is unclear, is being built in a separate part of the base.
Additional grilles have been installed on less protected shelters. Similar structures have been seen at other Russian air bases in the past.
Russia is building airplane shelters at Belbek airfield
Russia is building airplane shelters at Belbek airfield
Russia is building airplane shelters at Belbek airfield
What the Ukrainian Navy says
At the same time, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk noted that embankments like the ones built by the Russians at the Belbek airfield do not take long to build. In fact, the main thing is that the Russians are forced to respond to attacks on their military facilities in the occupied Crimea.
“I cannot confirm or deny this information. But, in any case, it is logical that they will try to protect their equipment. And if they need to build some kind of defensive structures, practice shows that Russians do not spare resources,” Pletenchuk said on the air of the national telethon.
In his opinion, another conclusion can be drawn from the fact that the Russians are building shelters. The point is that quite often in Ukraine we hear about some explosions in Crimea that we do not see. Most likely, the Russians are looking at them a little closer, so they draw the appropriate conclusions.
The situation in Crimea
Crimea was occupied by Russians in 2014. Since then, the invaders have turned the peninsula into a huge military base, surrounding it with air defense.
The defense forces are constantly striking military targets in Crimea. In particular, at the end of November, explosions were heard in Crimea. The Russians then claimed air defense and drone attacks, while locals reported a strike at the Belbek airfield.
