Satellite imagery analysis has uncovered persistent gas flaring and new outbreaks of fire on Ukrainian offshore drilling platforms in the northwestern Black Sea that have been occupied by Russia and are being used as military facilities, the Center for Investigative Journalism reported.
Data from the Sentinel-2 satellite reveals continuous burning on Ukrainian drilling rigs and manifold block conductors in the Russian-occupied area since 2014. Fires have persisted for over two years, with new “hot spots” emerging, and smoke plumes currently visible on four of the 14 platforms, according to the Center.
The latest satellite data also recorded smoke over a marine stationary platform on 12 August 2024, coinciding with a period when Ukrainian forces struck targets used by Russia for radio electronic reconnaissance and disrupting civilian vessel navigation, the Center said. Defense Express portal reported in August that the likely target of the latest Ukrainian attack was the MSP-17 platform, noting that at the time, NASA FIRMS’ wildfire monitoring satellites showed detected two fires in the northwestern Black Sea.
NASA data currently corroborates satellite imagery, revealing four thermal anomalies in the area between Odesa Oblast and occupied Crimea:
After the Ukrainian strikes, the Chornomornaftogaz company, which is controlled by the occupation authorities in Crimea, announced the suspension of field operations, resulting in a 28.1% reduction in mineral extraction in the occupied peninsula, the center noted.
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