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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ukraine ammo dump blasts blamed on 'possible sabotage' | Ukraine ammo dump blasts blamed on 'possible sabotage' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Explosions and fire have hit an ammunition depot in Ukraine in a possible act of sabotage, officials say, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. | Explosions and fire have hit an ammunition depot in Ukraine in a possible act of sabotage, officials say, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. |
| Videos on social media showed the blaze and explosions on the horizon near Ichnya, Chernihiv region. | Videos on social media showed the blaze and explosions on the horizon near Ichnya, Chernihiv region. |
| About 12,000 people were moved from the area around the depot, about 109 miles (176km) north-east of the capital Kiev, emergency services say. | |
| There were no casualties. | There were no casualties. |
| Deputy commander of the General Staff, Rodyon Tymoshenko, told a news conference the incident began with four explosions across the depot. | Deputy commander of the General Staff, Rodyon Tymoshenko, told a news conference the incident began with four explosions across the depot. |
| "The intensity of the blasts suggests that it was most probably sabotage," he said. | "The intensity of the blasts suggests that it was most probably sabotage," he said. |
| Security services are now investigating the incident. | Security services are now investigating the incident. |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman earlier tweeted that local authorities would provide accommodation for the evacuated, and that emergency services were on hand to help people. | Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman earlier tweeted that local authorities would provide accommodation for the evacuated, and that emergency services were on hand to help people. |
| The initial explosion at the base occurred at about 03:30 local time (00:30 GMT). | |
| From 04:22 a 20km radius airspace closure came into effect, emergency services say. Rail and road links in the area are also suspended, and gas and electricity supplies have been disrupted. | From 04:22 a 20km radius airspace closure came into effect, emergency services say. Rail and road links in the area are also suspended, and gas and electricity supplies have been disrupted. |
| Ammunition depot explosions have happened before in Ukraine, as the country continues its fight against pro-Russian separatists in its eastern regions. | Ammunition depot explosions have happened before in Ukraine, as the country continues its fight against pro-Russian separatists in its eastern regions. |
| In September 2017, 28,000 people were evacuated after a huge fire raged at a military arms depot in central Ukraine, while in March that same year an ammo dump at a base near Kharkiv suffered a series of explosions. | In September 2017, 28,000 people were evacuated after a huge fire raged at a military arms depot in central Ukraine, while in March that same year an ammo dump at a base near Kharkiv suffered a series of explosions. |
| Moscow denies sending troops and weapons to help separatists in the conflict, but admits that Russian "volunteers" are helping the rebels. | Moscow denies sending troops and weapons to help separatists in the conflict, but admits that Russian "volunteers" are helping the rebels. |
| Ukraine points the finger fast | |
| By Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Kiev | |
| Ammunition depot explosions are unfortunately regular occurrences here. | |
| In part that is due to the large amount of Soviet-era munitions that Ukraine still has and in part because much of it is being stored inadequately, or even kept in the crates in the open rather than secured underground. | |
| Each time another depot combusts the question is raised as to whether the fault lies with the shoddy storage or whether more sinister forces are at play. | |
| This time it took just seven hours from the first explosion for the defence ministry to come forward and put its case. | |
| Information was presented that guided the public very firmly away from military negligence towards the idea that this was sabotage. | |
| Sabotage in the Ukrainian context is almost always a thinly veiled suggestion that Russia, either directly or through its rebel proxies, is responsible. |