On 31 July, an explosion occurred at a military training ground in the Khmelnytskyi region, followed by the detonation of ammunition. Four servicemen were injured and are currently in hospital; there is no contact with several other servicemen who were at the scene. The Office of the Prosecutor General has announced the opening of a criminal investigation.
Briefly about the main points
- The explosions at the firing range began at around 11.55 on 31 July.
- Four injured soldiers were taken to a medical facility.
- Contact has been lost with several service personnel who were at the scene.
- The shockwave damaged around ten blocks of flats.
- Investigators will carry out their work at the test site once the detonations have ceased.
An explosion restricts access to the area
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed an explosion followed by a secondary detonation on the training ground of one of their military units. A command centre has been set up on site to deal with the aftermath of the emergency.
Four servicemen have been taken to a medical facility, where they are receiving treatment. The severity of their injuries is being assessed. Law enforcement officers are also trying to locate several servicemen with whom contact has been lost.
Until the detonations have completely ceased, rescue and investigation teams cannot safely begin their full-scale work directly at the test site. There remains a risk of further explosions and flying debris.
Damaged homes and changes to transport services
According to local authorities, the blast wave damaged around ten blocks of flats, private houses, a shop and two cars. The damage mainly consists of shattered windows and damaged roofs.
The police have alerted residents in the area where debris may have fallen and have restricted access to the area. People living in nearby buildings were urged to remain in shelters, and the routes of some public transport services in the city were temporarily altered. The authorities are gathering information about the damage to property.
Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the explosions
The proceedings were initiated under the procedural supervision of the Khmelnytskyi Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence Matters in the Western Region. The preliminary charge is under Part 2 of Article 414 of the Criminal Code: breach of the rules governing the handling of weapons, ammunition, explosives or other dangerous substances, resulting in bodily harm to several people.
Law enforcement officers are questioning the unit’s command and military personnel. Once they have gained safe access to the site, they will carry out a site inspection, other priority investigative measures and the necessary forensic examinations. The registration of the proceedings marks the start of the investigation, not a determination of the guilt of specific individuals; the classification of the offence may be amended based on the evidence gathered.
