KIEV, September 27. /TASS/. Retribution aimed at the Ukrainian government rather than subversion could be the main motive behind the inferno that tore through the depot of artillery and antiaircraft munitions near Vinnitsa in central Ukraine, former chief of the country’s foreign intelligence service, Nikolai Malomuzh said on Wednesday as he dwelled on possible causes of the fire.
"The probe should look into several versions including inflicting damage on the state for different reasons and resulting from different motivations, for instance, revenge against the Defense Ministry," Malomuzh told NewsOne channel.
He voiced the supposition that "domestic and even external factors" could stand behind the blaze at the depot "in order to aggravate the situation in the country."
"They’ve made public the main version now but there may be other dimensions, too, like opponents (of the government) or aggressive-minded elements," he said, adding that he could not rule out theft at the depot and subsequent attempts to cover up the tracks.
The ex-spy chief said there was no real evidence, nor proof of a terrorist or subversive act at the Vinnitsa depot - something that Ukrainian politicians and experts rushed to declare.
In the wake of it, the ex-spymaster said the investigators should consider four or five versions at a time.
About 22:00 East European Summer Time on Tuesday, the units of Ukraine’s state service for emergency situations received information on projectiles exploding at the depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kalinovka, Vinnitsa region.
According to the data confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, more than 80,000 tonnes of munitions had been stored at the depot. The military said later the ensuing blaze had destroyed about 30% of the stockpiles.
'Revenge against Ukraine' likely motive for artillery depot fire — Kiev ex-spy chief
More than 80,000 tonnes of munitions had been stored at the depot