Ukraine's Intelligence Chief Makes Harsh Satire, Crimea Has Russia's Best Defense System But Doesn't Work

Kepala Intelijen Ukraina Kyrylo Budanov. (Wikimedia Commons/President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Agency Kyrylo Budanov 'quipped' Russia's defense system in Crimea, when a series of explosions rocked the peninsula.

Budanov said Russia's air defense system on the Crimean peninsula annexed in 2014 was "not really working".

That he said, when asked about the spate of explosions on the peninsula that Kyiv has yet to claim, was one of the clearest clues that Ukraine might carry out an attack there.

"The Crimea is defended by Russia's best air defense systems," he said.

"They don't really work, and they can't afford to defend the territory that was taken from Ukraine."

As previously reported, the series of explosions that rocked the Crimea region was in the spotlight, due to the occurrence of Russian military facilities or nearby areas.

At least four explosions hit an area near Russia's main military airport, Belbek, north of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula on Thursday last week.

Previously, Russia accused acts of sabotage when a series of explosions occurred in Crimean ammunition depots on Tuesday of the same week.

The previous week, explosions also rocked the Saky air base area in Crimea, with Moscow saying it was caused by an accident.

The airbase's runway appears intact, but at least eight aircraft were damaged or destroyed, while explosion craters were seen in separate locations. The majority of aircraft damaged or destroyed were in specific areas, where a number of aircraft were parked in open areas.