Explosions rock arsenal near Moscow, evacuations underway
Explosions have occurred at an ammunition depot in the Kirzhach region, east of Moscow. Videos showing explosions and plumes of smoke on the site's premises have appeared online. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has declared a state of emergency in the region.
What do you need to know?
- Where did the explosion occur? The explosion took place in the Kirzhach region, east of Moscow, near the town of Barsovo.
- What are the consequences of the explosion? As a result of the explosion, a state of emergency was declared, and the evacuation of residents from several towns has begun.
- What caused the explosion? The Russian Ministry of Defense blames "violations of safety regulations" for the incident.
Which towns are being evacuated?
Following the explosion in the Vladimir Oblast, authorities decided to evacuate residents from several towns. The regional administration reported the evacuation of Barsovo and Mirny.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations declared a state of emergency in the region. Traffic on the local road has been closed, further complicating the situation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that "as a result of a fire at the unit, ammunition detonated." The ministry cites "violations of safety regulations" as the cause.
The ministry states that there is currently no information about casualties.
What do we know about the explosion site?
The explosion occurred near the town of Barsovo, where the arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces is located. Videos showing the magnitude of the explosion swiftly surfaced online.
The arsenal is located approximately 530 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Kyiv has not yet commented on the incident.
It is estimated that up to 100,000 metric tonnes of ammunition might have been stored in the depot.
