Zelensky: Stay Away From Military Facilities in Occupied Territory

Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territory should stay away from military facilities as much as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his compatriots to do so, also mentioning the people of Crimea.

There were explosions and a fire on this peninsula, which was annexed by Russia, on Tuesday, including at a Russian ammunition depot.

Zelensky hopes to limit the number of civilian deaths if people avoid places of military importance. “The fewer opportunities the occupiers have to harm and kill Ukrainians, the faster we can end this war and liberate our country.”

Russia said Tuesday’s blasts were the result of Ukrainian sabotage. Last week there were also several explosions at a military airport in Crimea, probably due to a Ukrainian missile attack. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, ammunition exploded accidentally.

Zelensky has not confirmed that the Ukrainian military is responsible for the two incidents, but officials have suggested that the strategy now is to destroy Russia’s military supply lines. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, took to Twitter to call it “demilitarization,” referring to Russia’s argument for starting the invasion of Ukraine.

The attack on Tuesday brought a large part of train traffic in Crimea to a standstill. The peninsula is an important route for the supply of southern Russian troops.