Yalta Dağlarında Orman Yangını: Ukrayna İHA Saldırısı İddiası, Sebep Belirsiz

Crews have spent a week battling a wildfire in the mountains near Yalta. It broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack, though occupation officials won’t say what caused it.

Firefighters have been battling a forest fire in the mountains near Yalta, in occupied Crimea, for more than a week. The fire was first reported on August 19, when it covered just over three hectares. Two days later, strong winds caused it to spread to 50 hectares. Authorities declared a regional state of emergency due to the natural disaster. More than 600 people are now working to put out the fire. Yanina Pavlenko, the Russian-installed head of Yalta’s administration, called reports of a “shortage of personnel and equipment, inaction by emergency services, and fundraising for firefighting efforts” fake news. Authorities have not officially stated the cause of the fire. As the BBC Russian Service reported, the fire began after Ukrainian drones attacked Yalta overnight on August 19. Local residents link the fire to the drone attack and the air defense response, one resident told the outlet. Meduza is publishing photos and videos of the forest fire.