20,000 people evacuated as "sabotaged" munitions store burns in Ukraine

By bne IntelliNews March 23, 2017

About 20,000 people have been evacuated following explosions at Ukraine's largest arms depot in Balakliya near the eastern city of Kharkiv after what was claimed to be an act of sabotage.

The base in Balakliya is used for storing munitions such as missiles and artillery shells and is located around 100km from the territory where fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels has been going on over the last three years.

Reportedly, munitions from the depot are supplied to Ukrainian forces operating in the conflict zone.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's chief military prosecutor Anatoly Matios wrote on his Facebook account that the explosions were the result of sabotage.

In December 2015, there was already an attempt to set the Balakliya depot on fire.

Related Articles

The price cap on Russian oil is becoming increasingly unenforceable, says Mutual Insurance Club

The price cap on Russian oil is becoming increasingly unenforceable, said the International Group of P&I Clubs, or so-called Mutual Insurance Clubs, according to reports on May 3. About 800 ... more

EBRD backs OTP Leasing to boost SME financing in Ukraine

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has stepped in to bolster financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine, providing a guarantee to OTP Leasing to the ... more

Ukraine's DTEK seeks $350mn to restore energy capacity after Russian attacks

Ukraine's leading private energy company, DTEK, has sounded the alarm, indicating an urgent need for $350mn to recuperate lost capacity resulting from Russia's relentless assaults on thermal power ... more

Dismiss