Russians set oil depot alight in Lysychansk, the fire cannot be extinguished due to shelling

DENYS KARLOVSKY SUNDAY, 8 MAY 2022, 19:45

Russian forces have fired at an oil depot, but the fire cannot be extinguished due to ongoing artillery shelling.

Source: Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhii Haidai

Haidai's Quote: "Emergency services have tried to curb the fire, but artillery shelling began, and the firefighters were forced to stop and leave the danger zone.

Extinguishing [the fire] is not possible. The shelling isn’t stopping."

Details: A sulphur production plant and a mixing station caught fire after being hit by a Russian shell. The fire has consumed an area of 360 square metres.

According to Haidai, if the fire is not extinguished, there is a chance the fire will spread and adjacent tanks will explode.

Background:

  • On 7 May, Russian forces dropped a powerful bomb on a school building in Bilohorivka near Lysychansk, where 90 people were hiding. According to preliminary data from the military administration, 60 people died under the rubble.

  • On the night of 8 May, Russian forces opened artillery fire on Shipilovo, where at least 11 people died under the rubble.

  • Ukrainian troops withdrew from Popasna in the Luhansk region to take up more protected positions.

Haidai assures the public that after 15 May the situation will change for the better for Ukraine.