Explosions in Kalynivka

In Kalynivka, Vinnytsia Oblast, ammunition depots began detonating on September 26 at around 10 p.m. The explosions could be heard 150 km away and seen 40 km away. Vinnytsia, located 23 km from Kalynivka, shook all night from powerful explosions. 

The danger radius – is 5 km; according to the authorities, Vinnytsia is not within this radius. City residents were asked not to panic despite the powerful sounds of explosions.

About 30,000 people were evacuated from Kalynivka and surrounding villages in the danger zone. People who left their homes began to be accommodated in schools in Vinnytsia. Rescuers report two injured, who were hospitalised.

The 48th arsenal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was the third largest in Ukraine after Svatove and Balakliia. The arsenal stores 188,000 tonnes of ammunition (10,000 notional wagons) on an area of 60 hectares. Among them – rockets for the "Smerch", "Uragan" and "Grad" multiple launch rocket systems. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine assures that explosions were recorded only at the tank ammunition site. The official statement says that the area of the fire is about 10% of the total area of the arsenal, and there was no ammunition in half of the storage facilities engulfed by fire.

Head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration Valerii Korovii said that by morning the intensity of the fire had decreased.

The prosecutor's office opened criminal proceedings into the explosions in Kalynivka. The incident was classified as sabotage.