Gas Pipeline Damaged as Result of Sabotage, Officials Say

Source: Euromaidanpr

The  Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhgorod (West-Siberian Pipeline, or Trans-Siberian Pipeline) gas pipeline was damaged at 55 atm and subsequent  explosion on a nearby gas pipeline took place on May 14 in Ivano-Frankivsk Region. The pipeline transports gas from Bohorodchany County underground storage facility to the compressor station located in Dolyna, both in Ivano-Frankivsk Region. Officials say it appears to be deliberate sabotage. The damage to the trunk line was the result of external actions: there was a huge dent on the external part of the pipeline and an opening that suggests some kind of explosive device.

A few hours after the explosion, when a large group of specialists arrived on the scene of the explosion, some 30 meters from where they were standing, a second explosion took place. Local pipelines were hardly affected at all. However, the wave from the explosion went in the direction of the people who were cleaning up the first explosion. There were no injuries, fortunately. Fragments of a remote-controlled explosive device were found on the site.

The Region prosecutor has already opened a criminal investigation into the case as a terrorist act. All the pipelines in Prykarpattia have now been placed under stricter security.