Ukraine Ammo dump blasts blamed on
possible sabotage, 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 Iknia, Chernyhiv region. About 12,000 people were moved from the
area around the depot, about 109 miles
176 kilometers northeast of the capital Kiev, emergency services say.
Deputy Commander of the General Staff Radiant Timoshenko, told a news
conference the incident began with four
explosions across the depot. The
intensity of the blast suggests that it
was most probably sabotage, he said.
Ukrainian Prime Minister 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 3:30 local time (0:30
greenwich mean time).
Russia sends nuclear-capable bombers on
patrol over Belarus. Russia sent a pair
of nuclear-capable long-range bombers to
patrol the skies over belarus on
saturday. A mission intended to underline
close defense ties between the two
allies amid tensions with the west.
The Russian defense ministry said the
two Tu-22M3 strategic strike bombers
practiced performing joint tasks with
the Belarusian air force and air defense. Su-30 Fighter Jets that Russia has
supplied to belarus escorted the bombers. Saturday's four-hour patrol marked Russia's third such mission in Belarus
since last month and took place amid
western concerns over a russian troop
buildup near Ukraine's border.
Moscow has denied harboring plans to
invade ukraine and press the united
states for security guarantees that
would exclude NATO expanding into Ukraine or deploying weapons there. The US and its Allies are almost certain
to reject Moscow's demands.
Some Ukrainian officials have voiced
concern that Russia may use Belarus as a
base for attacking their country from
the north.
Amid his own tensions with the European Union, Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko said last month that his
country would be ready to host russian
nuclear weapons.
The European Union has accused the
authoritarian Lukashenko of encouraging
migrants and refugees to use his country
as a backdoor to illegally enter
neighboring EU member nations Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
The EU imposed sanctions on Lukashenko's
government for its crackdown on internal
dissent after lukashenka's disputed
re-election.
The Belarusian leader wouldn't elaborate
on what kind of russian weapons belarus
would be willing to accommodate, but
noted that the ex-soviet nation has
carefully preserved the necessary
military infrastructure dating back to
the time of the USSR.
Russian foreign minister has described Lukashenko's offer as a serious warning
prompted by reckless western policy. Belarus top diplomat, seconded Lukashenko's statement in an interview
released saturday.
He said Belarus could agree to host
nuclear weapons as part of its response
to possible NATO activities in poland. Echoing russian concerns about growing
ties between ukraine and NATO, Mckay said
the western military alliance was Ukraine into a bridgehead against Russia.
