Explosions Rock Russian Ammunition Depot Near Moscow

Large explosions were reported at a key Russian ammunition depot east of Moscow, with the military attributing the blasts to a fire caused by safety violations. A state of emergency was declared, prompting evacuations while an investigation ensues.

Explosions erupted at a significant Russian ammunition depot located in the western Vladimir region, approximately 130 kilometers from Moscow, on Tuesday. According to the country's defense ministry, the incident involved detonations in an ammo warehouse, a critical storage site for the Russian military. The blasts were reportedly triggered by a fire that compromised the building due to a "violation of safety requirements" in handling explosive materials.

In response to the situation, local authorities in the Kirzhach district declared a state of emergency and began evacuating residents from surrounding villages. Eyewitness accounts from both Russian and Ukrainian media, as well as various social media platforms, depicted the scene with alarming visuals of massive flames and mushroom clouds.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the fire occurred within a military unit, detailing that there were no reported casualties. However, one nearby resident claimed to have seen an unexploded shell from the facility land on a neighboring house, which fortunately was unoccupied at the time, as reported by the Tass state news agency.

Governor Alexander Avdeyev has acknowledged the severity of the incident and promised to provide further details. He has also warned both journalists and citizens against sharing unofficial reports about the explosion, threatening potential fines for such actions.