Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas Apologizes for July Fire at Vuda Firing Range

On 27 July a fire erupted during a joint training exercise with U.S. forces at the Vuda firing range near Larnaca, Cyprus. Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas and RMMO Commander Emmanuil Theodoru met local officials, publicly apologized to the affected residents and said a compensation procedure would be prepared. Theodoru confirmed the blaze occurred “during a training exercise with the ally country” and pledged to review the range’s boundaries and improve detailed communication with nearby villages. Palmas announced the creation of a “road‑map of concrete actions and initiatives” and noted that the range might be relocated. Opposition party AKEL issued a statement demanding Palmas resign, accusing him of covering up the incident and blaming the RMMO unfairly. Local authorities have also called for stricter safety protocols for future exercises.