Kyiv: Explosions in Crimea were caused by lit cigarettes

The Ukrainian Defense Minister refused to comment on the possible involvement of his army in the explosions that took place at an ammunition depot in Crimea, saying at a press conference Wednesday in Copenhagen that they were caused by cigarettes.

"I think the Russian soldiers at this airport forgot a very simple rule," said Oleksiy Reznikov, who is visiting Denmark to attend a meeting with donor countries for Ukraine sponsored by the Scandinavian state and Britain. "That's it."

Tuesday's explosions left one dead and wounded in an ammunition depot at the site of a military airport in Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia, which has halted oil shipments through Ukraine.

The Russian military asserted that there was no shooting or shelling behind these explosions, which were first reported by the authorities of the peninsula, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014, and on the front line of the Russian offensive on Ukraine that began on February 24.

In response to a question about the matter, the British Defense Secretary said he had no comment on the incident but mentioned Ukraine's right to defend its territory.

"If it was an attack from Ukraine, it would be legitimate and in accordance with international law," Ben Wallace said.

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