PRAGUE: Nine soldiers were injured on Monday in an explosion at a Czech military site used to train Ukrainian troops, according to statements from the army and a local hospital.
The incident took place at the Libava military area, located just east of Olomouc, a city approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of the capital, Prague. The explosion involved unspecified ammunition, the army reported on X (formerly Twitter), but further details were not provided.
Two soldiers with moderate injuries were airlifted to the University Hospital in Olomouc. “Six were transported to an army hospital in Olomouc by ambulance vans and one was treated on the site,” said hospital spokesman Adam Fritscher.
The Libava site has been a key location for training Ukrainian soldiers since late 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. However, military police spokeswoman Katerina Mlynkova clarified to AFP that the injured were “not foreigners.”
The explosion underscores the risks inherent in military training and handling of ammunition. The Czech military has been actively supporting Ukraine through training programs and other assistance.
