Russia set to suffer massive blow by Christmas, according to Crimean Tatar chairman

Social media platforms have been peppered with videos of smoke billowing into the sky following reported explosions in Crimea earlier this week. The Eastern European news outlet Nexta, which supports Ukraine, shared one such video of Feodosia. The foreground looks normal; there’s a beach with people swimming, drying off, and stretching out on beach towels. But in the background, a large portion of the horizon is covered in rising smoke.

There have been several videos of smoke

Another pro-Ukraine user, (((Tendar))) posted similar videos, stating that ‘something is cooking in Russian-occupied Feodosia. This comes only hours after another explosion in the north of the Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea was reported near Dzhankoy.’

Newsweek reported that the Ukrainian internal affairs adviser, Anton Gerashchenko, also posted a video of smoke, explaining that ‘local authorities report that ammunition disposal at the firing range is taking place’.

The Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

This comes hot off the heels of explosions that happened around the Crimean Bridge. These temporarily closed this strategically important link between Russia and the peninsula that was illegally annexed in 2014 following a fake referendum.

Officials continue to downplay these explosions as drills or accidents as they try to squash speculation that they are the result of Ukrainian attacks.

Russians in Crimea are preparing to leave

However, Refat Chubarov, the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar, tells a very different story. The Daily Express reported yesterday, 10 August, that Chubarov explained that the consistent bombings in Crimea have proven to Russians that they will soon lose control of the peninsula.

He told The New Voice of Ukraine that Russians believed Crimea was safe, but with all the recent attacks, they now realise that they ‘cannot defend Crimea’:

In Crimea, everyone realises that liberation is inevitable. This is the absolute truth. And everyone, based on their expectations or they behaved, is already trying to adjust accordingly.

The chairman explained that many people who have started to build lives in this area, having been told that the situation there was stable, are watching it ‘collapsing’ and trying to be strategic about their next moves. This includes Russian investors who moved into Crimea following the invasion who are keen to get out again before Ukrainian troops reclaim the area.

Crimea could be free by Christmas

Chubarov stated that some analysts who have been observing the situation have estimated a potential timeline: though there is no certainty of this, they suggest Crimea could be liberated by Christmas.

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Sources used:

The Daily Express: Putin humiliated as troops 'realise they can't defend Crimea' with liberation inevitable

Newsweek: Blasts Reported in Crimea as Russia Conducts Nuclear Drills