Avakov, Danilov coordinate fire-fighting operation in Luhansk region

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, and heads of the State Emergency Service and the National Police are coordinating a fire-fighting operation in Luhansk region.

“Together with the NSDC secretary, the heads of the State Emergency Service and the National Police, we are working in the operational headquarters in the area of wildfires near Severodonetsk. We carried out air monitoring of the fire areas. More than 1,200 employees of the State Emergency Service and the National Police and 200 units of equipment (+2 AN-32P aircraft) are fighting the fire," Avakov wrote on Twitter on July 8.

On July 6, a forest fire broke out on the territory of the Borovske and Okhtyrske forestries on an area of about 50 hectares near the village of Oskolonivka, Novoaidar district, Luhansk region. The fire was contained early on July 7, but due to gusty winds and high air temperatures, the fire spread to the village of Smolianynove, Novoaidar district. The work is also underway to put out the blaze on an area of about 40 hectares near the village of Kapitanove.

According to preliminary information, the fire killed five people.

Two firefighting aircraft of the State Emergency Service from Kramatorsk were involved in extinguishing the fire.

The police opened criminal proceedings under Article 270 (violation of fire safety requirements established by law) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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