Explosions at ammunition depots in Ukraine carry signs of targeted sabotages
The General Staff noted that the state allocated funds for storage of the ammunition and organization of their security
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The emergency situations that took place at the ammunition depots and arsenal over past two years carry all signs of the sabotages and could be the consequences of the activity of the enemy special services. Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko claimed this during his speech at the National University of Defense named after Ivan Cherniakhovsky as the press service of the Ministry of Defense reported.
'The emergency situations at the arsenals (depots) near Svatovo, Volnovakha, Balakliia, Mariupol and Kalynivka are nothing else but the result of the special operation. The enemy replaces the main forces to the deep of our country when he has no possibility to achieve the goals at the East of Ukraine by the military way. Their top priority is the destruction of the weapons of destruction that are not produced in Ukraine and it is impossible to purchase them', Muzhenko reported.
Related: Fire at Kalynivka ammunition depot: Consequences and punishment of perpetrators
He noted that such actions of the enemy are predicted in the terms of the continued Russian aggression. The Armed Forces assume measures within the available resources to prevent this. The state began to allocate funds to develop the places of storage of the weapons and ammunition and organization of their security. But the volume of work is still significant and it needs years to accomplish the work.
'Ukraine got million tons of ammunition from the Soviet Union and part of them is useless. The dispersal of this reserve ammunition needs the attraction of the great volumes of the railway transportation and modern equipment', Muzhenko noted.
Related: Explosions ceased in Kalynivka
As it was reported earlier, fire at the ammunition storages in Kalynivka of Vinnytsia region began at 22:00 on September 26. Two women suffered in the result of the incident and were hospitalized. Almost 30 000 local citizens were evacuated from the dangerous area. They explosions ceased in the morning of September 28 and the rescuers finished clearing the territory from the explosives near the depot in the afternoon. The local citizens began to return in the evening of September 28.
Related: Fire in Kalynivka to not influence US decision on arms supply to Ukraine, - Volker
The Chief Military Prosecutor's Office of the Central region of Ukraine opened the criminal proceeding due to sabotage. The investigators enquire four versions of the fire in Kalynivka. The President of Ukraine decided to convene a military cabinet because of the fire at military depots in Kalynivka. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman claimed that the de-mining of the territories near the armament depot in Kalynivka region (Vinnytsia region) can last until the end of November.
As 112 International reported, a series of powerful blasts took place at an ammunition storage facility in Kharkiv region on late March 23. The incident occurred near the town of Balakliya. Many of the locals were evacuated from the town and its vicinities. The fire caused by the blasts was finally extinguished the day after that, by the evening of March 24. Numerous casualties and even a fatality were reported.
Related: OSCE monitors situation on fire in Kalynivka
Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak claimed that the fire destroyed 70% of ammunition.
A fire started at the ammunition depot on October 29 in Svatovo. More than 3500 tonnes of ammunition were placed in the depot. 476 private and multi-story residential buildings were damaged by the fire and shells explosions. Nearly 5 thousand people left their homes to get to the safe places. The fire also covered the woods around the town.
explosions sabotage ammunition depot