A massive explosion on 31/7 at a training ground in western Ukraine's khmelnitsky province, followed by a series of secondary blasts, injured at least 4 soldiers and left some missing, according to local officials. Many homes in the area were also damaged.

Images captured by local residents showed a massive mushroom cloud rising from the scene, accompanied by secondary explosions both on the ground and in the air. The specific types of weapons stored at the facility remain unclear.

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of Ukraine stated that experts have not yet been able to safely access the site. After questioning commanders and soldiers, the SBI identified the preliminary cause of the explosion as a "violation of rules for disposing of weapons and hazardous materials".

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and Air Force Command have not yet commented on the information.

Iznanka, a social media account linked to the russian military, suggested that the site was a missile depot managed by the ukrainian air force in khmelnitsky province. The account questioned the explanation that the incident stemmed from weapons disposal, noting, "ammunition disposal operations are never conducted in inhabited areas".

According to the russian military news site Avia Pro, the explosion site may have been "a storage location for a large quantity of western-made air-to-air missiles and glide bombs". It added that the incident could limit combat capabilities and reduce the mission frequency of Ukraine's F-16 fleet.

Smoke plume and secondary explosions at the training ground in khmelnitsky province on 31/7. Photo: X/AMK Mapping

This marks the second large-scale weapons depot explosion in Ukraine in the past month.

During an attack on the capital Kyiv and its surrounding area on 6/7, russian forces struck the Zhulyany Machine-Building Plant (Vizar) in Vyshneve. This facility produces components for R-360 neptune anti-ship missiles, as well as 5V55 and 48N6 missiles for S-300 air defense systems.

The large explosions forced 500 residents in Vyshneve to evacuate immediately. Approximately 130,000 m2 of residential buildings were damaged, marking the most significant damage to residential areas in Ukraine since the conflict began.

Location of starokostiantyniv city and khmelnitsky province. Graphic: RYV

Khmelnitsky province hosts starokostiantyniv airbase, a key facility for the ukrainian air force. It is home to the Su-24 strike aircraft fleet carrying storm shadow/SCALP-EG missiles and serves as the main base for western-donated F-16 and mirage 2000 fleets.

Russia has repeatedly attacked starokostiantyniv airbase since the conflict erupted, with the intensity of attacks increasing since Ukraine received its first F-16s in 8/2024. Ukrainian officials have acknowledged that the base sustained hits, but did not specify damage.

In its war report on 31/7, the russian Ministry of Defense announced attacks on ports in odessa province and cargo ships accused of carrying weapons for the ukrainian military in that region. It did not mention khmelnitsky province.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Ukrainska Pravda, TASS)