Satellite images showed multiple destroyed bomber and fighter jets.

Earlier this week, an explosion was detected at a Russia-affiliated air base in Crimea. Upon investigation, it was revealed that around seven Russian military aircraft, including bombers and fighter jets, had been destroyed, and the surrounding area severely damaged.

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the explosions occurred as a result of faulty munitions, though they did not divulge what actually sparked the munitions. Military analysts, however, suggest that the explosions were a result of a deliberate attack, likely from the Ukrainian military, rather than an accident.

“If one bomb explodes, it can send high speed, very hot fragments into any adjacent bombs and detonate them. This is called explosive propagation,” Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a former Australian Air Force pilot, told CNN. “In the image of the Russian air base, you can see three explosion sources. These set off adjacent aircraft that it seems had bombs on them. The explosion propagated.”

“Russian weapons are less safe than Western weapons in terms of the sensitivity of the explosive fill of the warheads. This is at least due to most weapons being old ex-Soviet stocks and so old technology,” Layton added.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has not claimed credit for the explosion. However, following the explosion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the war “began with Crimea and must end with Crimea – its liberation.”