Fire-fighting Armored Vehicle Deployed to Combat Ammo Depot Fire in Ukraine

An ammunition depot in Ukraine's Vinnytsia region detonated late Tuesday causing huge explosions as Uragan, Smerch and Grad multiple rocket launchers were stockpiled there among other munitions.

According to the Ukrainian police, the munitions detonated at nearly 10 p.m. local time (19:00 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday. Early on Wednesday, the Ukrainian aviation authority closed airspace in a radius of 31 miles from the burning buildings.

Ukroboronprom has deployed a special fire-fighting armored vehicle, the GPM-72 to help put out the fire.

The GPM-72 is equipped with a fire fighting reservoir with a capacity of 20 tons, a modern fire pump and a mount, allowing extinguishing at the distance of up to 100 meters, a Ukroboronprom release said.

The vehicle has enhanced passability and crew protection from various types of ammunition and fire. 30-mm armor protects the rescuers, the cabin has a filter-ventilator unit and the system of pouring water over the cabin to reduce its temperature.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said Wednesday that the situation around burning ammunition depot in Ukraine's Vinnytsia region was under control, adding that Ukraine's Emergencies Service, the National Police and the Defense Ministry were working at the scene, agencies reported.