In the Kirzhachsky district of the Vladimir region, explosions can be heard, and authorities are evacuating local residents. It is reported that this may be the result of an attack by Ukrainian drones; shortly before the explosions, locals heard the sounds of drones.
The explosions occurred on the territory of the arsenal of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate. OSINTtechnical writes on social media about a successful attack by Ukrainian drones on the arsenal, which may store more than 250,000 tons of ammunition.
The governor of the region, Alexander Avdeev, reported the explosion, stating only that «responsible services are working on site». TASS, citing emergency services, wrote about the introduction of a state of emergency in the Kirzhachsky district following the explosion.
According to the telegram channel Baza, close to law enforcement, residents of 7 settlements within a 5 km radius of the explosions are being evacuated. «Zebra TV» reports that a group from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Vladimir region is being deployed to the area.
As «Nezavisimaya Gazeta» wrote, the arsenal holds more than 4,000 wagons of ammunition, each weighing 64 tons, totaling over 264,000 tons. According to «Krasnaya Zvezda», the arsenal is primarily intended for receiving rockets and ammunition from manufacturers and troops, their assembly, storage, and preservation.
As «Agency»* writes, this is not the first incident with the 51st arsenal of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate. In June 2022, due to explosions at the same ammunition depot, five people died, at least three of whom were soldiers. On March 11, residents of the village of Barsovo were evacuated due to the threat of a drone attack; 2 UAVs then fell near the village of Pesyane.
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».