Tank explodes on military unit premises in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region
KYIV, Oct 4 (Interfax) -- A tank of the 54th brigade has exploded on the premises of a military unit stationed in the town of Cherkaske in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the website hromadske.tv said.
According to eyewitnesses, the tank caught fire at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. Preliminary reports said four servicemen were injured but no one died.
A serviceman said the fire was not put out promptly and all the 24 shells onboard exploded.
"They failed to put out the tank fire on time and started to pull back other vehicles, tanks, standing nearby because they were also carrying shells. Finally, the tank's ammunition exploded. People scattered away all over the range, as shell fragments flew on a radius of about 200-300 meters. Several guys were hurt: they got burns and were shell shocked while trying to put out the tank fire. When the first shell detonated they were thrown away from the tank by the blast wave," he said.
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
Hundreds Attend Protest Against Russian Air Base In Belarus
Hundreds of people gathered in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on October 4 at an unsanctioned protest against the establishment of a Russian air base in Belarus.
Some 500 people attended the protest, which lasted several hours in central Minsk.
Former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich spoke at the rally and denounced Russian plans to establish an air base.
He said the goal of the air base is to target Ukraine, which would make Belarus a target for both NATO and Ukraine.
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a government proposal to sign a deal for the military air base and ordered officials to start talks on the issue with Belarus.
The plan is not expected to face major obstacles.
Russia has two military facilities in Belarus -- a radar station and a submarine communications center.
It also has some fighter aircraft in Belarus, but the plan would establish the first full-scale base there since Soviet times.
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for a quiet Sunday, October 4. Check back here tomorrow for more of our ongoing coverage.
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Ukraine starts light weapons withdrawal in east: military
Ukraine has started withdrawing tanks and light artillery from the frontline in the eastern region of Luhansk in accordance with a recent agreement with pro-Russian separatists, the Ukrainian military said on Monday.