Satellite captures aftermath of Crimea oil depot strike – Five fuel tanks on fire
Illustrative photo: satellite shows the aftermath of the attack on the oil depot in Crimea (Getty Images)
The fire at the oil depot in the village of Hvardiiske in Crimea, which belongs to the Atan gas station network, initially began to die down after a Ukrainian drone strike on the night of October 17. However, today the flames flared up again with renewed intensity, according to the satellite images published by Radio Svoboda.
As seen in the satellite image taken on the morning of October 21, at least five fuel tanks have already burned down. For comparison, the previous image was taken on October 15.
The circumstances of the fire are currently being clarified, and the extent of the damage is being assessed. The situation at the oil depot remains dangerous due to the potential threat of further explosions and fires.
On the night of October 17, two powerful explosions were heard in Simferopol and the Simferopol district. According to locals, two smoke plumes were observed: one from the burning oil depot in Hvardiiske, and the other from Simferopol Airport or the airfield in Hvardiiske (they are almost aligned).
The Ukrainian Armed Forces special operations confirmed that long-range drones struck the oil depot in Hvardiiske. Ukrainian defenders also attacked the federal state treasury institution of the Hvardiiske complex.
It later became known that the fire at the Hvardiiske oil depot was visible in NASA FIRMS satellite images. The photos showed that there were two separate fire hotspots at the depot.
Explosions in Crimea
As previously reported by RBC-Ukraine, on the night of October 13, explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Crimea. The Russians complained of an attack by unidentified drones.
Local residents reported power outages in Simferopol and Feodosia. It is possible that the Simferopol thermal power plant (Tavriiska TPP) was hit.
It is from Hvardiiske that the Russian forces launch Shahed drones at Ukraine. It is also known that Russian drone storage facilities are located there.
Additionally, on the night of October 6, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the facilities of the Sea Oil Terminal in temporarily occupied Feodosia. The oil transfer complex burned for two consecutive days.
