Ukraine air base saved from fire

Ukrainian firefighters have battled to save a strategic military unit from a neighbouring fuel depot blaze, that has left at least four people dead outside Kiev.

More than 1500 National Guard troops worked to seal off the air base, which is home to Mig-29 fighter jets as well as bombs and rockets.

The blaze began at the underground fuel storage facility at a nearby fuel depot on Monday.

Three rescue workers and the fuel station attendant were reportedly killed in the blast on Monday night, several others remain missing.

Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov and Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning to oversee the rescue and co-ordinate work aimed at saving the air-base.

"The danger of the flames spreading to the military unit and the neighbouring petrol tanks has passed," Turchynov reported on Tuesday evening.

The security chief also promised to launch a criminal investigation into the design engineers who had placed a tight ring of fuel storage facilities around a military base loaded with heavy bombs and various rockets.

At least 10 people have been treated for burns and other injuries.