An explosion shook a Russian town in the Vladimir region east of Moscow on Tuesday, prompting general panic and evacuation of surrounding villages, local media and pro-Kremlin Telegram channels associated with Russia’s security agencies reported.
A state of emergency was declared in the area after people reported seeing a huge fireball and dense black smoke rising into the sky, as seen in dramatic footage shared on Telegram.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that the explosion happened at a military depot, blaming a breach of safety procedures, which caused stored ammunition to detonate. Early reports suggest that there were no fatalities.
Governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed that the explosion occurred in the Kirzhach district and that rescue teams were working on the scene. He did not say what kind of site it was or what was inside.
Security-linked Telegram channel Baza said at least 10 to 11 explosions were heard, and reinforcements of firefighters came from neighboring districts to contain the inferno.
As a measure in response to the mounting threat, the district administration declared the evacuation of the population from the villages of Barsovo and Mirniy.
Futher information from authorities has not yet been issued regarding the specific reason for the incident or the scope of the damage, but the explosion highlights ongoing safety issues around Russia’s weapons depots.
