Smoke rises after an explosion on the Crimean peninsula on August 9, 2022. (Photo: Kyiv Post/ VNA)

According to the head of Crimea's health department, five people were injured, including one child. Authorities have cordoned off the area and  are monitoring several fires. 30 people living near the airbase area were evacuated to safety.

Russia's defence ministry said the detonation of several aviation ammunition stores had caused an explosion, but there had not been any kind of attack and no aviation equipment had been damaged. Moscow said an investigation was underway.