Explosion in Russia

At least 45 people were left injured following an explosion reportedly linked to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

It is feared the number of casualties may increase amid reports of people possibly trapped under the rubble.

Several videos and pictures shared on August 9 show a large plume of thick smoke rising from the Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant JSC (ZOMP) located in Sergiyev Posad, a city northeast of Moscow famous for its 14th-century Trinity Lavra St Sergius monastery complex.

Russian media claimed the explosion was caused by pyrotechnics. Russian Telegram channel SHOT reported eyewitnesses alleging the blast occurred as workers were unloading raw materials for the production of explosives such as fireworks.

The channel also said a criminal case into the incident has already been launched, set to look into a possible violation of industrial safety requirements for hazardous production facilities.

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On the other hand, Russian state news agency Tass has reported emergency services saying the explosion happened “in the area of ​​​​the boiler room”.

The publication Ria Novosti wrote the incident may have been caused by human error.

The Russian reports over the incident are already being challenged by Ukrainians, who have claimed the factory works closely with the Kremlin.

UNITED24Media, the Ukrainian Government-run media platform, claimed the factory “maintains a close partnership with the Russian Defense Ministry and that it “engages in the production of optical components intended for military equipment”.

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The plant is a “prominent developer and manufacturer of optical and optoelectronic apparatuses for various sectors, including law enforcement, industry, and healthcare”, the UNITED24Media added, citing the plant’s own website.

The platform also shared on Telegram a video showing what it describes as the “epicentre” of the explosion.

Several firefighters can be seen working to extinguish fires in the midst of debris and utter devastation. The wreck of a car can be barely recognised among the rubble.

Anton Gerashchenko, an official advisor at the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, also cast doubts on the Russian reports over the nature of the explosion.

He wrote on Twitter: “We see a mushroom cloud from a single explosion, and the pyrotechnics would have exploded in different directions.

“Information also appeared in the media a few days earlier that Russia may have overcome its deficit in optics to produce T-80 and T-90 tanks – it was to be manufactured at this plant.”

Doubts the explosion may have been caused by a material different than fireworks were fuelled following the emergence of reports of findings by local residents near the exploded site of ammunition debris. Among the debris reportedly found was a 152mm shell.

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