Explosions at Russian ammo depot prompt evacuation near Moscow
There have been explosions at an ammunition depot in the Kirzhach region, east of Moscow. Videos online show explosions and plumes of smoke at the unit's premises. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has declared a state of emergency in the area.
What do you need to know?
- Where did the explosion occur? The explosion happened in the Kirzhach region, east of Moscow, near the town of Barsovo.
- What are the consequences of the explosion? As a result, a state of emergency was declared, and the evacuation of residents from several towns has begun.
- What caused the explosion? The Russian Ministry of Defence attributes the incident to "violations of safety regulations".
Which towns are being evacuated?
Following the explosion in Vladimir Oblast, authorities have 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 area. Traffic on the local road has been stopped, further complicating the situation.
The Russian Ministry of Defence 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 took place 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 quickly surfaced online.
The arsenal is situated approximately 530 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Kyiv has not yet commented on the incident.
It is estimated that up to 100,000 tonnes of ammunition might have been stored in the depot.
