Zelensky Pledges ‘Liberation’ For Crimea After Russian Warplanes Are Destroyed

According to Ukrainian officials, nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in an attack on a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian air force said nine Russian warplanes were destroyed after several explosions hit a military air base in Russia.

Russian officials denied that aircrafts were destroyed and that an attack was carried out, instead saying the incident was caused by air force bullets catching fire and exploding.

Ukrainian officials told multiple outlets that the country was behind the attack.

He said in his address Tuesday night that he would never give up on the peninsula, which is popular with Russians.

The Black Sea region can't be safe as long as the Soviets are in control. As long as Russia is able to use our peninsula as a military base, there will be no peace in the Mediterranean Sea. Zelensky said in a nightly address on Tuesday that the Russian war against Ukraine and against the entire free Europe began with the annexation of the peninsula of Simferopol.

Ukrainian officials are raising concerns about damage to a nuclear power plant from shelling. The biggest nuclear power station in Europe, which was taken over by Russian forces early in the war, was attacked by the other side, according to both the Ukrainian and Russian governments. According to the head of Ukraine's national energy company, Russian shelling damaged three lines that connected the plant to the grid.

Key Background

Ukraine does not recognize the peninsula as Russian territory and accuses Russia of occupying it. Russian officials have denied using the air base to launch missiles. One of the biggest Russian military bases in the region is located at the base. The New York Times reported that videos showed smoke rising from the air base before three blasts and the destruction of a warplane. Ukrainian officials, including an aide to Zelensky, wouldn't say who was responsible for the attack. It would be the first attack on a Russian military installation by the Ukrainians.

Russia's warplanes were destroyed in the blasts.

The official says the blast was done by Ukrainian special forces.

There are high risks at the occupied power plant.