Separatist authorities accuse Ukraine of an assassination attempt on their leader Zakharchenko
Two explosions occurred on the road leading to the Saur-Mogila memorial complex which is currently in the separatist-held territory in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s RIA news agency reports.
The incident allegedly occurred minutes before the convoy of the leader of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko, was to travel on the road.
No one was injured as a result of the explosions but the stretch of the road was closed.
A source close to the DPR military told the agency that the explosions were caused by two mines placed along the road and happened near the town of Shakhtarsk.
“Two mines were placed on the road. One of them, detonated, the other didn’t. There are no killed or wounded”, writes separatist news website DAN citing their source.
The source also added that five more mines were found on the road.
“There were five more mines on the road. They were not remotely controlled but timer-based,” the source stated.
The leader of DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, accused Ukraine of organizing the explosions on the road to Saur-Mogila memorial complex, DAN web site reports.
"Ukraine has made us a gift. Six explosive devices worked, one was cleared, and two did not explode, “ Zakharchenko told journalists, demonstrating an object which he called “an element of an explosive device”.
The administration of the so-called DPR stated that the explosions were triggered by the Ukrainian side with the purpose of intimidation.