Russia-Ukraine war – live: Moscow evacuates thousands as fire reported at Crimea military base

Russian is evacuating thousands of people and a major highway has been shut down in the Crimean peninsula after a fire broke out at a military training base in the Kirovske district. “It is planned to temporarily evacuate residents of four settlements – this is more than 2,000 people,” said Russian-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov. An ammunition depot was on fire at the base after an overnight Ukrainian air raid, reported Russian Telegram channels linked to Moscow’s security services. Neither Ukraine nor Russia has confirmed the reports of an attack. Big flames and plumes of smoke were seen in videos shared online showing an uninhabited area, broken by a series of detonations. Some Telegram channels indicated that the fire was still not contained as of Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s port city of Odesa witnessed “hellish” scenes overnight as it sustained more Russian airstrikes, officials said, a day after Vladimir Putin pulled out of a deal to allow safe grain exports from the region. Authorities were still assessing the scale of damage and casualties from the “very powerful, truly massive” attack, said Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa military administration. Read More Aftermath of Russian missile attack on Odesa captured in bodycam footage South African leader says that arresting Putin if he comes to Johannesburg next month would be 'war' In Ukraine, a family's ordeal to identify and honor a veteran killed in Bucha ends after 16 months Chris Christie mocks Trump’s ‘top secret’ plan for ending Ukraine war: ‘Move over Churchill’