Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of a village that was heavily damaged by a powerful explosion on Tuesday, citing security concerns and an ongoing investigation.
The incident in Peschanka, in Dnepropetrovsk Region, 20 km northeast of the regional capital, Dnepr, resulted in an explosion that killed at least one woman and injured 11 other people. The blast also destroyed three houses and damaged 15 others, according to Aleksandr Ganzha, head of the region’s military-civilian administration.
A local news channel published a short video showing a large column of smoke rising in the distance before a massive explosion sent debris flying through the air.
Another news outlet posted two clips purportedly filmed at the scene, showing several damaged buildings. Smaller explosions typical for a fire at a munitions storage facility can be heard in the footage, followed by a big blast.
Municipal authorities said the evacuation of Peschanka was ordered because of “potential risks,” while criminal investigators and bomb disposal specialists worked at the scene.
There have previously been incidents in which Ukrainian officials stored military munitions near residential areas. The practice endangers civilians and is considered a form of using noncombatants as human shields under international law.
A major incident of this kind occurred last month in the city of Vishnyovoe in Kiev Region, where a Russian strike on an ammo depot caused a series of secondary detonations and devastated a large area. Some 500 residents were evacuated from the settlement.
The Ukrainian military distanced itself from the Vishnyovoe incident, while executives at a local defense plant were arrested on suspicion of negligence.