Defence of Sevastopol panorama museum catches fire during drone attack on Crimea

A fire broke out in temporarily occupied Sevastopol early on the morning of 10 June when an air-raid warning was in effect. The building housing the Defence of Sevastopol panorama, covering 30,000 sq m, is reported to have been severely damaged by fire.

Source: Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities), a Radio Liberty project covering life on the occupied peninsula; Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet TASS; Krymskiy Veter (Crimean Wind), a Crimean local Telegram channel

Details: Initially, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-appointed head of the city, said the roof of the Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855 panorama building was on fire.

A few hours later, he said the fire had been classified as a fourth-level incident. He blamed the Ukrainian authorities for the blaze.

"The situation is really difficult: it is already clear that the Franz Roubaud Panorama has been virtually destroyed… Barbarians and inhumane people deliberately struck what is dear to us, trying to destroy our essence. Only complete degenerates could do such a thing – deliberately strike a museum. We will not be intimidated. The only thing you have achieved is once again showing the world your true barbaric face. Sevastopol is not afraid, Sevastopol remembers!" Razvozhayev said.

Meanwhile, the press service for the Defence of Sevastopol Museum said pieces of Franz Roubaud's original canvas were not destroyed.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have not commented on the report. Krymskiy Veter reports that several Russian military facilities are located near the panorama building: the Southern Bay, where ships, boats and warehouses are located, a battalion-level air defence command post, the Black Sea Fleet aviation headquarters and a special communications centre.

Krymskiy Veter also notes that on the Historical Boulevard, on a hill between the railway station and the Panorama, there are two anti-aircraft machine-gun positions covering the railway station and Southern Bay. Fire has repeatedly been opened from these positions on UAVs, with bullets and shrapnel falling near the Railway Station public transport stop below the hill, narrowly avoiding casualties.

"As we said: clumsy. And now they've set the Panorama on fire," Krymskiy Veter said.

The Russian Ministry of Defence did not comment on the report.

"The entire building of the Defence of Sevastopol panorama, covering 30,000 sq m, burned out following a strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, builders report," TASS claimed.

For reference: The Defence of Sevastopol Panorama is a circular museum dedicated to the first defence of Sevastopol (1854-1855).

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