Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Ukraine Sends Aircraft as Fire Rages at Arms Depot

Ukraine Sends Aircraft as  Fire Rages at Arms Depot

KIEV - Kiev said on Wednesday it had sent in aircraft to fight a massive fire as explosions continued at an arms depot in northern Ukraine.
More than 12,000 people were evacuated after ammunition stored at the depot near the village of Druzhba began exploding early on Tuesday, sparking a huge blaze.
Security services said they were investigating “possible sabotage” at the facility around 135 kilometres (85 miles) northeast of Kiev, implying Russia’s involvement.
Kiev forces have been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country since 2014 in a conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people.
“Several aircraft have already taken off” to battle the blaze, Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak told a cabinet meeting.
“There is still smoke coming from the arms depot, but I think we will be able to stop it soon,” he said.
Poltorak said the depot contained about 70,000 tonnes of ammunition over 680 hectares (1,700 acres), around 43,000 tonnes of which were “ready to use”. There was another powerful blast in the middle of the night, he said, adding that the intensity of explosions on Wednesday was one every three minutes. (AFP)