According to the Defense Minister, Stepan Poltorak, about 83,000 tons of ammunitions were stored at the site, about 63,000 tons of it usable consisting primarily of tank ammunition.[5] The explosions forced the temporary evacuation of about 24,000[6] or 30,000 people.[1] Air space was closed and trains diverted. There was damage to property in the area but no fatalities were reported.[5]
The cause of the explosions remained unclear, however, Ukraine's domestic intelligence believed the explosions to be an act of sabotage,[1] and a presidential advisor suggested that a drone may have started it.[1] The secretary of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov, noted that the military arsenals have many safety violations.[6] Further, the personnel problems could have reduced security and vigilance.[6] It was also pointed out by Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian politician and former military pilot, that depots may be used for illegal trading of arms; an explosion would destroy evidence.[citation needed] Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman indicated the need for a thorough investigation and opined "This is the arsenal of the Ukrainian army, and I think it was no accident that it was destroyed."[7]
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported on September 30 that "uncontrolled explosions" and the fire had been halted.[3]
On October 2 Kalynivka's schools resumed their school year.[8]
The Kalynivka ammunition explosion was the second major explosion in 2017 of a Ukrainian ammunition depot. The earlier one took place in March at a depot at Balakliia near Kharkiv necessitating the evacuation of about 20,000 people.[1][2] The destruction at these two ammunition depots is reported to have reduced the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[6]