Fire breaks out at military training ground in Crimea

MOSCOW

A fire broke out at a military training ground in the east of the Crimean Peninsula that has been under the control of Moscow since 2014, the local authorities reported on Wednesday.

Due to the fire, which started last night, the main road – Tavrida Highway – was closed, Governor Sergey Aksyonov wrote on Telegram.

The official informed that over 2,200 people from four settlements are being evacuated from the zone adjacent to the training ground, located in the Kirov district.

Aksyonov said the fire did not cause casualties, and its reasons are being investigated.

Aksyonov's advisor Oleg Kryuchkov said that the traffic was rerouted.

Tavrida Highway crosses the Crimean peninsula from one end to another and serves as the major artery for its road system.

At least two people were killed and a child was severely injured in a blast early Monday at the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, saying the Defense Ministry is preparing "appropriate proposals" in response to the explosion.

The Ukrainian authorities neither confirmed nor denied Russia's claims.