Mushroom cloud erupts at Russian base after ‘first Ukrainian missile strike’ on Crimea sends tourists fleeing from beach

A MUSHROOM cloud has erupted at a Russian base after Ukraine allegedly fired its first missile strike on Crimea, sending tourists fleeing from a beach. Videos showed a huge plume of smoke rising from Novofedorivka base on the annexed peninsula, which has until now avoided major assaults.  A huge mushroom cloud erupted near a busy beach in CrimeaEast2west News It’s been claimed that Novofedorovka base was targeted by Ukrainian missilesEast2West A dozen explosions were heard of varying intensity and huge columns of smoke were seen on the clip.  One local said: “It slammed so loudly that we were deafened.” Another said: “Something is burning in Novofedorivka. There are some explosions as it burns.” Oleg Kryuchkov, advisor to the Vladimir Putin‘s goons in region, said: “So far I can only confirm the fact of several explosions in the Novofedorivka area.  READ MORE ON THE UKRAINE WAR DOOMSDAY THREAT Russia threatens to NUKE UK & US after battle over nuclear mega-plant MORALE BOOST Ukrainian soldiers boosted in war effort thanks to saucy Telegram channel “I ask everyone to wait for official reports and not to invent new versions.” The head of the pro-Moscow regime, Sergey Aksyonov, said he was on his way to the scene. Ambulances and air ambulances were sent to the site and information about any victims was still being established, the Ministry of Health of the region reported. Russia for decades leased the naval port of Sevastopol, home of its Black Sea Fleet, from Kyiv, but annexed the entire peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Most read in The Sun 'Brings me to tears' Lauren Goodger's face is 'unrecognisable' after Charles Dury ‘attack’ LEGEND LOST Grease star Olivia Newton-John dies at 73 after breast cancer battle IT'S KANTONA! Kerry Katona plays footie in thong after claiming she 'looks like a whale' DOG DAYS I’m a vet and there are five dog breeds I’d never own – some are way too hyper TECH A LOOK! Warning for ALL Ring Doorbell and Amazon Alexa owners – you could be at risk CHILD'S PAY Hundreds of thousands of parents could have child benefit STOPPED now It remains under Russian control, but has not seen the intense bombardment and artillery combat that have taken place in other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. At least three people were injured in the explosions, Russian media reported. Among them was a 13 year old boy with a cut wound on his forearm and a pensioner with a shrapnel wound. Russian firefighters were kept away from the explosions, said reports, and it’s not clear why. Aksyonov announced an evacuation and a 5km safety zone around the explosions.  He confirmed the explosions were at a military airfield. “Ambulance crews and medical aviation are working on the spot, there are enough of them,” he said. “It is too early to talk about the victims.  “Among the civilian population, no one has yet applied to medical institutions for help.” About 30 people were evacuated from houses adjacent to the airfield.  Some 15 explosions were reported in 30 minutes in the barrage. Detonations were said to be heard continuing to go off in the background. The 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the PKS of Russia is currently based at the airfield, which mainly consists of Su-30SM, Su-33 aircraft and Su-24M bombers. A Russian defence source denied incoming missile fire, claiming: ”At around 3.20pm, aircraft ammunition detonated at the ‘Saki’ airfield near the village of Novofedorovka at a rubble storage site. “No one was injured as a result of the explosion. No aviation equipment at the airfield was damaged. Read More on The Sun GLAM UP Gogglebox's Amy Tapper looks slimmer than ever as she celebrates pal’s wedding RING RING Three Ring Doorbell hacks you MUST know – or it could cost you “Measures are being taken to extinguish the resulting fire and investigate the cause of the explosion.  “According to the report from the site, there was no fire impact on the collapsed ammunition storage area at the airfield.” Large swathes of the beach near the base were cleared following the explosionEast2West