Powerful explosions in Donetsk and Luhansk – Gas pipeline catches fire

LAST UPDATE: 19/02/2022 – 00.34

A second explosion took place tonight in the city of Luhansk, in the self-proclaimed “democracy” of eastern Ukraine, as reported by the Russian agency Tass, citing local authorities.

The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a gas pipeline near the city.

According to the Russian news agency Ria Novosti, the gas pipeline in the Luhansk region was engulfed in flames.

According to the Interfax agency, the fire in the Druzhba pipeline broke out after a powerful explosion, near the city of Luhansk.

The local Luganskinformcenter agency broadcast footage on its Telegram channel showing a yellow glow illuminating the city.

The authorities of the area are directed to the spot.

#URGENT | A strong explosion has been recorded this Friday night in the city of #Lugansk. Local media report that a fire affects the ‘#Druzhba‘gas pipeline. pic.twitter.com/84jgsrMPq8

– M Rs RED (@MASREDNIC) February 18, 2022

Earlier, the separatist authorities of the Donetsk “democracy” announced that a car had exploded near a government building in the city of the same name, according to the Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

According to the agency, this happened a few tens of meters away from the Donetsk government building. The fire is now visible at the site of the explosion while nearby buildings have not been damaged. There are no reports of casualties from official sources, but Interfax news agency reported that no one was injured.

Authorities in the area confirmed the reports of an explosion in the center of Donetsk, noting that a car exploded in the parking lot of the government building, at 18.00 Greek time.

A Reuters witness said the car was completely destroyed by the explosion, while it was also noted that there was no one inside the vehicle at the time of the explosion.

A news agency of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” urged residents to remain calm and not move around the city if possible.

The leader of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic”, Dennis Pushilin, said that the situation in Donbas was unfortunately leading to war. “Unfortunately, yes,” Pushilin told Russia 24 when asked if the situation in Donbas was leading to a full-scale war. “A full-scale attack could be launched at any time. Everything is absolutely ready for that,” he added.

As for the explosion that took place earlier, he said that the car belonged to the head of the Donetsk People’s Militia, without himself being injured. “Yes, these sabotages are some of the signs of preparation for offensive actions. The car that exploded belonged to the head of the People’s Militia Sinenkov Denis, outside the government building in the center of Donetsk. Fortunately, he was not injured,” he said.

Earlier, AFP reporters on the scene reported an ongoing bombing near Stanitsia Luhansk, a city in eastern Ukraine controlled by government forces.

The sound of bombings can be heard in this city, which was also hit yesterday by a bombing that caused damage to a kindergarten.

Ukraine: Mass evacuation of civilians to Russia announced by pro-Russian separatists

Meanwhile, the first buses carrying people evacuated from the separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine arrived in Rostov, Russia, late Friday, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

Earlier, the mass evacuation of territories controlled in the Ukrainian province of Donetsk (which they have dubbed the “Donetsk People’s Republic”) by the elderly, women and children to Russia, in consultation with Moscow, was announced shortly after 3 p.m. . (Greek time) the pro-Russian separatist guerrillas, through the mouth of the head of the specific entity, Dennis Pushilin.

He spoke in support of the US Alliance, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer to Moscow. army and pro-Russian separatists have intensified, according to Reuters.

At the same time, the head of the “Luhansk People’s Republic”, a pro-Russian separatist entity that controls the territories of the Ukrainian province of Luhansk, Leonid Pasetsnik, also called on residents to leave for Russia as soon as possible, according to the Russian news agency Rost.

“In order to avoid civilian casualties, I call on the people who do not have mobilization orders and who are not involved in the provision of social and political infrastructure to leave for the territory of the Russian Federation as soon as possible,” he said.

He added that Russia is ready to host the residents. “Russia is ready to ensure the organized reception and accommodation of the people of the Luhansk People’s Republic on its territory,” he said.

He also called on “all men capable of carrying weapons to defend their land.”

Kiev has not yet commented on the Pushilin and Pashetnik statements.

Asked about the evacuation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov, according to Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency, said: “We have no information about the situation there.”

A Reuters witness stressed that a loud siren sounded from central Donetsk, while the Interfax agency pointed out that the first buses to evacuate people from Donetsk would depart at 20:00 local time, citing an anonymous official.

Putin orders housing for people leaving Donbas – Offers $ 129 per person

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered the Russian government to provide housing and food to people fleeing the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as soon as they reach southern Russia, according to Reuters.

A Kremlin statement said Putin had ordered the emergency minister to travel to southern Russia to arrange accommodation for “Donbass refugees.”

“President Vladimir Putin has instructed (the minister) to go urgently to the region to organize work to create the conditions for housing the people, providing hot meals and all the necessary necessities, including medical care,” the statement said. announcement.

Putin also ordered a payment of 10,000 rubles ($ 129) to each person arriving from Donbass, the statement added.