Ukraine: Deadly Depot Fire Might Be Terrorist Act
Ukrainian officials says a fire that caused multiple explosions at an ammunition depot that killed two people is being investigated as a "terrorist act."
The Defense Ministry said on October 30 that the string of blasts took place at a military complex in the town of Svatove, about 100 kilometers from territory in the Luhansk region controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
The ministry said in a statement that a fire started after a flare landed in the complex "from outside the base" and this led to several explosions.
It did not say who it suspected of the alleged attack.
Vladislav Deinego, a separatist representative in Luhansk, said the separatists had "nothing to do" with the incident.
Video showed huge clouds of smoke billowing up from the depot, which reportedly contained some 3,500 tons of ammunition.
The two people killed were civilians.
Four other people and four soldiers were also injured in the incident.
The incident comes as a thorough cease-fire continues, allowing for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line.
More than 7,900 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
