Huge explosion in Central Russia: Mushroom cloud rises over major missile depot

A powerful explosion rocked the Kirzhach district of Russia's Vladimir region (aka oblast), with local residents claiming the incident may have occurred near a military unit at an ammunition depot.

Regional governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed the explosion but did not provide further details. He urged journalists and bloggers not to spread unnecessary information.

More photos and videos from the site of the explosion here.

Evacuation of Nearby Residents Underway

Following the explosion, residents of the village of Barsovo in the Kirzhach district are being evacuated. They are being relocated to schools in a neighboring settlement. Evacuations have also been announced in several other neighboring villages – all located within five kilometers of the blast site. At least six school buses are being used to transport residents.

Russian Defense Ministry Confirms Explosion

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the detonation occurred on the grounds of a military unit. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties.

Local outlet Zebra TV, citing eyewitnesses, reports that the explosions were  taking place on the grounds of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate Arsenal (GRAU). Emergency response units from Vladimir Oblast are being dispatched to the military site. It is believed that up to 1,000 residents will have to be evacuated.

Arsenal Previously Called Exemplary

In 2009, the Independent Military Review described the 51st Arsenal of the GRAU, located about 8 km from the city of Kirzhach, as one of the exemplary facilities. It was capable of storing 264 tons of ammunition, though at the time it held only 105,000 tons across 45 storage buildings and 30 open-air sites.

It is believed that the ammo depot stocks a very substantial amount of arms.

Similar Incident Took Place Less Than a Year Ago in Toropets

In September 2024, it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the town of Toropets in the Tver region in Central Russia. Ukrainian drones then targeted a "super missile storage facility”, previously described by then-Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov (now under arrest) as being capable of withstanding a nuclear blast. Over 20 people were hurt, and over 7,000 local residents were evacuated as a result of the drone attack.

Details

Vladimir Oblast (Russian: Влади́мирская о́бласть, romanized: Vladimirskaya oblastʹ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Vladimir, which is located 190 kilometers (120 mi) east of Moscow. As of the 2010 Census, the oblast's population was 1,443,693. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes the 12th-century cathedrals of Vladimir, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo, and Kideksha. Vladimir Oblast borders Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts. The oblast is situated in the center of the East European Plain. The Klyazma and the Oka are the most important rivers. There are approximately three hundred lakes. The oblast is situated in a zone of mixed forests. The region's geology is characterized by a variety of sedimentary and igneous rocks, including sandstone, shale, limestone, granite, and diabase. There are also several mineral deposits in the oblast, including iron ore, apatite, and phosphate. Some notable natural landmarks in the oblast include the Klyazma Reservoir and the Suzdal Kremlin, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Additionally, there are several nature reserves and parks in the oblast, such as the Meshchyora National Park and the Ugra National Park.