Huge explosion & massive inferno as ‘Ukrainian drone strike’ hits occupied Crimea blowing up fuel depot in blow to Putin

A SUSPECTED Ukrainian drone strike has blown up a major fuel depot with huge explosion and massive inferno in annexed Crimea. Staggering footage shows the sky turning black over the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol as the smoke rises from the enormous blaze. The sky turned black over Crimea – which has been occupied by the Russians since 2014 The suspected drone strike blew up a fuel depot A suspected Ukrainian aerial drone strike hit a major fuel depot in the heart of annexed Crimean naval port Sevastopol today.  Footage showed a fireball with huge flames and a mushroom-like black cloud from a major fire triggered by two explosions in Cossack Bay.  The blasts came at 4:20am and 4:21am local time, and appear to be the latest attempt by Ukraine to strike at  Russia’s naval firepower base in the annexed peninsula.  The Russian-appointed Sevastopol authorities rushed 18 firefighting teams to the inferno.  The flames shot into the sky and an area of almost 11,000 square feet was ablaze, according to the occupying officials.  “There were two explosions,” a resident told Readovka.  “One muffled somewhere far away and the second directly from Cossack Bay.  “Of course, after that the fire started immediately.  “Everyone was asleep but the explosions woke them up.  “The fire brigade arrived after about 15 minutes.” Vladimir Putin was informed about the strike which represents a failure of his air defences. There were no immediate reports of casualties.  A resident told Izvestia: “The explosion was strong. I don’t know how our windows remained in place.” Witnesses reported seeing drones flying from the direction of Cape Fiolent, south of the strike.  The major incident came as Russia is bracing itself for more attacks with Ukraine preparing for a counteroffensive against Putin’s aggression.  In recent weeks sea drones have penetrated Sevastopol but have been thwarted by Russian defences.  Ukraine has repeatedly declared its intention to retake the Crimean peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014 to international outcry. Vladimir Putin’s governor of the city Mikhail Razvozhaev rushed to the scene. “I am working at the scene of an emergency – I am heading the operational headquarters,” he said.  “The situation is under the control of our firefighters and all operational services,” he claimed  “There are 18 fire brigades at the site, 60 firefighters are valiantly fighting the fire. “The arrival of a fire train is expected.” The blaze – which continued hours after the drone strike – was ranked as the most difficult category to extinguish.  “Since the volume of fuel is large, it will take time to localise the fire,” said the governor.  “Nothing threatens civilian objects.”