A large fire broke out in the Russian port of Kavkaz on the Taman Peninsula after an explosion hit a railway ferry carrying fuel tanks, according to reports from the area.
Eyewitnesses shared videos and photos showing massive plumes of black smoke and flames billowing from the site, located opposite the Crimean Peninsula.
The ferry involved in the incident is believed to be the CONRO TRADER, the only large ferry operating between Kerch and Russia.
This is not the first time the ferry has been targeted.
It was previously struck by an ATACMS ballistic missile on May 30, causing damage that was deemed non-critical at the time.
Following the explosion, the fuel tanks on board the ferry ignited, leading to a series of smaller explosions. Emergency services have been deployed to the scene, and the extent of the fire and any potential casualties are still being assessed.
In response to the incident, Russian forces have heightened security measures, including setting off alarms in military units in Sevastopol and blocking access to the Kerch Bridge, a critical link between Crimea and mainland Russia.
Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of orchestrating the attack, which they claim is part of a broader campaign against Russian infrastructure.
