Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Explosions and fires ripped through an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea on Tuesday in the second suspected Ukrainian attack on the peninsula in just over a week, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 people.

Russia blamed the blasts in the village of Mayskoye on an "act of sabotage," without naming the perpetrators.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The Ukrainian army has damaged one of the bridges over the Dnieper river

Active fighting is taking place in the southern parts of the country. Ukrainian forces report that they have damaged one of two bridges over the Dnieper River.

Ukraine said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack, which would represent a significant escalation in the war.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Explosions hit Russian military airbase in annexed Crimea

One person has been killed and several others wounded in an explosion at a military airbase in the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula.

Witnesses said they heard at least 12 explosions around 3:20 p.m. local time (12:20 GMT) from the Saki Air Base near Novofedorovka on the peninsula's west coast.
Crimea, a holiday destination for many Russians, has so far been spared the bombing and artillery fire that other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine have suffered.

"The Crimean bridge is protected by modern air defense systems. The bridge has reliable protection, so I do not advise the Kyiv Nazis to try to carry out provocations. Otherwise, their provocations and plans will be accompanied by lightning retaliation. Decision-making centers will be destroyed, including those in Kyiv.

Russia is preparing new provocations in the Black Sea, and among the potential targets of provocations are Bulgaria and Romania, the Association for the Reintegration of Crimea, a non-governmental platform that analyzes and seeks solutions to problems after the Russian occupation of Crimea, said in its official Facebook profile.

According to the BBC report, Polyansky said that part of Ukraine's offer to give up NATO ambitions and become a neutral country in exchange for security guarantees and freezing the status of Crimea for the next 15 years is being rejected.

Maintaining the status quo in the Black Sea provided by the Montreux Convention is of vital importance, Turkey's defense minister has said, calling on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate tension and resolve problems through dialogue.

Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country today again accused each other of shelling and other ceasefire violations amid tensions and fears of a Russian invasion, Reuters reported.

Kyiv and the rebels blamed the escalation after artillery and mortar fire on Thursday.