Fire at ammo depot in Chernihiv region extinguished

"As of 21.00 [on October 10], single explosions were continuing at two smoldering sites with a frequency of one or two explosions per hour. They do not pose any threat to settlements located near the arsenal," the statement said.

According to Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Oleksiy Chernobai, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, together with the State Emergency Service, are taking measures to put out smoke and smoldering from the fire.

Mine clearance teams are removing explosive items from the administrative territory as well as the territory near the arsenal.

In the early hours of October 9, a fire broke out near the village of Druzhba in the Ichnia district of the Chernihiv region at the warehouses of military unit A1479 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The prosecutor's office opened criminal proceedings over negligence. The pre-trial investigation was entrusted to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) directorate in Chernihiv region.

According to the SBU, there are three theories behind the causes of the accident, with the major one being an act of sabotage committed by a subversive group. Two others are the violation of the rules for fire safety or storage of ammunition, and deliberate arson or detonation in order to conceal the lack of ammunition.

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