Volodymyr Zelenskyy Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Off/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
By Thomas Kielhorn
It was the first attack by the Ukrainian army on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula since March 2014 – the start of the Russian occupation.
In his video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi once again promised his compatriots the liberation of the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea, which had been annexed by Russia. “Crimea is Ukrainian and we will never give it up,” he said on Tuesday.
With the annexation in 2014, Russia turned Crimea into one of the most dangerous places. “The Black Sea region cannot be safe as long as Crimea is occupied,” Zelenskyy said in his speech.
“This Russian war against Ukraine, against all of free Europe, started with Crimea and must end with Crimea, with its liberation.” The cause of the massive explosions on the peninsula remains unclear. The government in Kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to a report in the New York Times, the Ukrainian army has attacked the key Russian air base with an undisclosed weapon it developed itself.