Smoke billowed into the sky near Dzhankoi, a major rail hub in the northern part of the peninsula used by the Russian military to transport troops and equipment to occupied Melitopol, which Moscow seized early in its wide-scale invasion. A series of explosions on Tuesday appeared to destroy a Russian ammunition dump and an electricity substation about 125 miles (200 kilometers) from the front line with Ukrainian forces. A similar attack last week wiped out Russia’s Saky airport in western Crimea. At least eight warplanes were incinerated. Tourists relaxing on the beach fled in panic, while long queues of traffic tried to escape via a bridge to the mainland. Smoke rises into the sky near Dzhankoi in Crimea after a suspected Ukrainian attack on a Russian ammunition dump. Photo: Reuters It was unclear how Ukraine managed to reach both military targets, and Kyiv has not officially confirmed responsibility. The US-supplied Himars system used by Ukrainian soldiers to destroy bridges on the Dnieper River has a range of about 50 miles. Officials in Kyiv have suggested the strikes in Crimea may be the work of rebels emboldened by Ukraine’s recent guided missile successes or the product of infighting within the Russian military. Either way, Russia’s southern bases and command posts suddenly look vulnerable. The Defense Ministry in Moscow confirmed that a fire had broken out at Dzhankoi, but gave no explanation as to what might have happened. “Necessary measures are being taken to eliminate the consequences of sabotage,” the ministry said. Senior Ukrainian government aides expressed their joy on social media. Mykailo Podolyak, an adviser to the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said the apparent attack was an example of “demilitarization in action.” He tweeted: “A reminder…Russian-occupied Crimea is about warehouse explosions and high risk of death for intruders and thieves.” Another aide to the president, Oleksiy Arestovych, tweeted a photoshopped photo of him relaxing on a deck chair similar to those pictured last week in the apparent attack on Shaki in Ukraine. In the background there is black smoke. “Morning at Dzhankoi,” Arestovych wrote. The morning near Dzhankoi began with explosions. Reminder: Normal country Crimea is all about the Black Sea, mountains, recreation and tourism, but Russian occupied Crimea is all about warehouse explosions and high risk of death for intruders and thieves. Demilitarization in action. — Mykhailo Podolyak (@Podolyak_M) August 16, 2022 In his final night speech, Zelensky again accused Moscow of “nuclear blackmail” and called on Russia to hand over the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which it uses as a military base from which to bomb the neighboring Ukrainian-controlled city of Nikopol. and Marhanets. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Zelensky called for sanctions on Russia’s Rosastom nuclear agency and “the entire nuclear industry of the terrorist state.” Rosatom employees are located in the complex, which Ukrainian technical personnel continue to operate. “All Russian troops must be immediately withdrawn from the plant and neighboring areas without conditions,” Zelensky said. More than 40 countries have urged Russia to withdraw and remove heavy weapons from the facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. A former senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Russians had moved a large number of armored vehicles into the giant turbine room of the No. 1 reactor. They said the Russians were shelling the factory from surrounding villages and roads. Their apparent aim was to raise the stakes in negotiations with Kyiv and put pressure on the international community, which would force Ukrainian concessions, they suggested. “The whole situation at the plant is dangerous but not catastrophic,” the source said. “I still believe them [the Russians] they are not mad and will not reach the point of destruction.’ Four of the reactors were no longer operational and in cold shutdown, they said. The other two were functional but operating at half capacity. Rosatom personnel were in contact with Russian soldiers and advised them which areas could be “safely” bombed, they claimed. Asked if Ukraine itself is bombing the plant, as Russia has claimed, the source replied: “It’s like thinking the sun revolves around the Earth. It is absolutely impossible. It is our plant, our territory and our people. The Russians are responsible for this.” About 50,000 people live in Enerhodar, the town in the Zaporizhzhia region next to the nuclear complex. Russian troops are keeping a low profile and have flown Russian flags on their main buildings, including the former headquarters of the SBU, Ukraine’s intelligence service. Many male residents had evacuated their wives and children to safer territory controlled by Ukraine, the source said. Schools and kindergartens were closed. Shops that were empty during the first months of the invasion now had products available for purchase with Ukrainian hryvnia, they added. For the past 10 days, explosions have rocked Enerhodar every night, the source continued. A man walking his dog was killed by shelling in the first district – the only local casualty in recent months. “The Russians are actively using the area around the city. I hear all these terrible sounds night and day. Sometimes it sounds like the explosions are so close it’s in my neighbor’s backyard,” they said. There was every indication that Russia plans to annex occupied Zaporizhia soon. An “election tent” had been set up in Enerhodar ahead of the so-called vote, they said. The front page headline in a new Russian propaganda paper, Zaporizhzhia Vesnik, reads: “The referendum will take place!” The source said: “None of my friends want a referendum. I don’t see people who will vote. Maybe there are a few who live in a parallel universe.”
