Kharkov, February 22 (PolitNavigator, Alexandra Ignatieva) – The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the official version explosion in Kharkov that occurred during the start of a unity march dedicated to the anniversary of Euromaidan.
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“Today at about 13.20, during a peaceful march of Euromaidan activists and patriotic citizens, an explosion occurred. About 15 people were injured. Two people died on the spot, one policeman was among the dead,” stated in the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“Several public events were planned in Kharkov, including a peaceful march. Its participants headed from the Sports Palace to the city center. On Moskovsky Prospekt near the Marshala Zhukova metro station, an unknown explosive device went off in the crowd. An explosion occurred, which injured about 15 people, five of them policemen. Two people died on the spot, one policeman was among the dead,” law enforcement officers specified.
On this fact, criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (terrorist act). The case materials were sent, according to their jurisdiction, to the Security Service of Ukraine.
Now a comprehensive investigative and operational group, explosives experts and forensic experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, the prosecutor’s office and the State Tax Service are working at the scene. The victims are provided with medical assistance and taken to medical institutions.
“The head of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Kharkov region, Anatoly Dmitriev, declares a suspicion of committing a terrorist act. The work of the investigative team at the scene of the incident is under his personal control. Law enforcement officers are establishing the circumstances of the incident and calling on possible witnesses to inform law enforcement agencies about the circumstances of the emergency known to them,” the police said, noting that the explosive device could have been planted in advance.
As PolitNavigator reported, according to other sources, three people died.