Defence Ministry on fires in Russia's Belgorod: Ukraine is not responsible for all disasters in Russia

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO - FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022, 16:20

Ukraine is not responsible for all disasters or events occurring on Russian soil, particularly regarding the fire at an oil depot in Belgorod.

Source: Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk at a briefing at the Ukrainian Media Centre on 1 April, answering questions from the media

According to Motuzianyk: "I would like to point out that as of today, the Ukrainian state is conducting a defensive operation to repel armed Russian aggression on Ukrainian soil.

And this does not mean by any means that Ukraine has to bear responsibility for all blunders, disasters and events taking place in Russia.

This is not the first time we have seen such accusations. Therefore, I will neither confirm nor deny this information."

Details: In response to a question from journalists asking for clarification, Motuzianuk said he had given an exhaustive answer and had nothing to add.

Background:

• On the morning of 1 April, Russian media reported about a fire at an oil depot in Russia's Belgorod, which is close to the Ukrainian border.
• The governor of the Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that the fire was caused by an airstrike from two Ukrainian military helicopters that had entered Russia at low altitude.
• Russian presidential press secretary Dmitriy Peskov said that the explosion at the oil depot in Belgorod was not conducive to creating favourable conditions for the continuation of negotiations.