Russian officials are downplaying the severity of an attack at the Saki Air Base in Crimea that destroyed seven warplanes.

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The attack wrecked a Russian fighter, attack and surveillance aircraft, said the official who spoke on thecondition of anonymity to discuss battlefield assessments. Ammunition stored at the base also detonated and damaged the airfield and surrounding buildings.

The Pentagon has not provided Ukraine with weapons that have the range to strike the air base, the official said. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

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