Russian arms depots in Transnistria most dangerous to Ukraine, Ambassador of Ukraine to Moldova says

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Moldova Serhiy Pyrozhkov believes that Russian arms depots in the village of Cobasna in the Transnistrian region are of a greater danger for Ukraine than for Moldova.

The diplomat told the Moldovan tv7 channel on Monday.

"It is necessary to remember that Russian arms depots (more than 26,000 tonnes of ammunition) in the village of Cobasna in Transnistria are located just 4 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. In case of explosion, which often occur in some countries, adjacent to the territory border regions of Ukraine will suffer most," Pyrozhkov noted.

The diplomat added the Ukrainian side since 1996 has been in talks with the Russian authorities on the removal of munitions from Transnistria, but the Russian leadership constantly assures that the depots are not dangerous to the citizens of Moldova and Ukraine.

The arms depots in the village of Cobasna (artillery ammunition depot) were created in the 1950s and served as a strategic arsenal of the Western Military District of the USSR. According to preliminary data, the volume of arms and ammunition makes more than 26,000 tonnes. According to experts, a possible explosion of the available ammunition may correspond to an explosion of a nuclear bomb.

Adapted from Ukrinform