A major munition depot near Kalinovka, Vinnytsia region caught fire on September 26 at 9PM. The exploding munitions and ensuing fire could not be contained. The power in Kalinovka is down, and the civilians are being evacuated.
The depot contained approximately 188 tonnes of munitions, amongst them BM-21 “Grad”, BM-27 “Uragan” and BM-30 “Smerch” missiles. The surface area of the depot is 600 hectares (~1482,63 acres). If the missiles were to fly off and disperse, the effective zone may envelop 500 thousand people, as the city of Vinnytsia is in 25 km (~16 miles) to the depot, though the State Emergency Service of Ukraine officials claim the city is safe.
According to the officials of Armed Forces of Ukraine, only 10% of the whole depot area is on fire. Half of the storage unit on fire are empty of munitions.
As of 6AM today 28,3 thousand people have evacuated from Kalinovka and its outskirts. One woman was injured. Four houses caught on fire as they were hit by missiles, but this fire has been contained.
The causes for the fire are yet unknown, though General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces does not rule out sabotage as a possible cause.
This is the fourth destroyed munition depot in Ukraine in the last two years. The previous munition depot fires occurred in Lugansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Few photos of Ukrainian troops responsible for the depot’s security:
