The explosives were homemade

Yesterday, on the Day of the Baptism of Rus', at 16.26 (17.26 Moscow time) an explosion occurred in the Orthodox church in Zaporozhye. Nine people were injured, including nun Lyudmila, born in 1929, who died from numerous injuries on the operating table. The police are considering several versions of the explosion in the Holy Protection Church in Zaporozhye, including a terrorist attack. In connection with the explosion, a criminal case has been opened under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - “Intentional murder committed in a manner dangerous to the lives of many people,” “Attempted murder of many people,” and “Intentional destruction or damage to property by explosion,” RIA Novosti reports. .

“We must immediately solve this crime. And, what is very important, and what society expects today is to give an answer, what is the motive of this crime, what did the bandits want to say with this explosion,” Yanukovych said on Thursday during a meeting with the heads of law enforcement agencies.

According to the preliminary conclusion of the explosives service, a high-explosive explosive device (blockless) went off, the power of the explosion was 300-400 g of TNT equivalent, most likely a homemade explosive. According to the report, the epicenter of the explosion was the vestibule at the entrance to the church; the damage was minor (glasses and frames in several window openings were broken, plaster was damaged). At the time of the explosion, there were about 15 people in the room; no service was taking place.

Press Secretary of the Zaporozhye Diocese, Archpriest Konstantin Kostyukovich, noted that he does not suggest who could have carried out the explosion: “Of course, I have no right to talk about it.” “Today is such a celebration - the Day of the Baptism of Rus'. Patriarch Kirill prayed with us... We hope and trust in God that this will not happen again,” he said.