The advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko, said that the fire caused the detonation of ammunition. He also emphasized that before the fire, air defense and Grad rockets' operation were heard in Mariupol.

“Fire and detonation. Minus the occupying troops' personnel, which they have been building up so hard in recent weeks.

Before that, air defense systems and sounds similar to the work of Grad systems were heard in Mariupol and the area (most likely, the response of detonation). After the explosions, the helicopters took off again in the direction of the hit,” he said. 

• On March 13, explosions occurred in temporarily Russian-occupied Mariupol.