A series of explosions at a key Russian ammunition depot has resulted in evacuations and a safety investigation, following a fire that likely sparked the detonations.
**Explosions Rock Russian Ammunition Depot, Prompting Evacuations**
**Explosions Rock Russian Ammunition Depot, Prompting Evacuations**
Major blasts near Moscow lead to emergency declarations as authorities investigate the cause.
Explosions have erupted at a Russian ammunition depot located in the Vladimir region, roughly 130 kilometers northeast of Moscow. According to Russia's defense ministry, the blasts, which occurred on Tuesday, were triggered by a fire in the storage facility, resulting from a "violation of safety requirements." This site serves as a critical storage location for Russian military munitions.
In response to the incident, a state of emergency has been declared in the Kirzhach district, leading to the evacuation of nearby villages. Both Russian and Ukrainian media outlets have circulated videos and images displaying the extensive fire and large plumes of smoke in the aftermath of the explosions.
The Ministry of Defence reported no casualties due to the incident and mentioned the establishment of a commission to probe the causes of the fire. However, concerning testimonies have emerged, including one account from a local who observed a shell falling from the warehouse onto a neighbor's house, thankfully without detonation as the residence was unoccupied at the time.
Alexey Avdeyev, governor of the Vladimir region, acknowledged the incident and indicated that further updates would be forthcoming. He also issued a warning to both residents and journalists against disseminating unofficial information related to the blasts, threatening penalties for those who fail to comply.
