Blast rocks Russian military optics plant near Moscow

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A factory in a city near Moscow making optical systems for the Russian military was rocked by an explosion on Wednesday, which sent a column of smoke into the sky and injured 52 people.

Authorities said the blast was caused by a violation of technical protocols by a fireworks company that rented storage space from the Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant and used it to house equipment for its displays.

The plant is a major developer and manufacturer of precision optical devices for the Russian military, making equipment such as night vision goggles and binoculars, as well as devices for use by police or in science and healthcare.

The incident follows a string of similar explosions at industrial sites across Russia in recent months, which were attributed to Ukrainian drone strikes or pro-Ukrainian saboteurs. The same plant also caught fire in June last year, just a few months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Drone strikes attributed to Ukraine have become a regular occurrence in the Moscow region in recent months with two combat drones shot down over an area south of the capital in the early hours of Wednesday.

Security camera footage captured the moment of the explosion at the plant in Sergiev Posad, a small city and popular tourist destination 70km north of Moscow. Videos shared on social media showed smoke billowing across the city.

The Zagorsk optical plant produced equipment for the Russian army during the second world war, when it was relocated to Siberia as the frontline drew nearer to Moscow.

Authorities said the explosion on Wednesday took place at a rented warehouse on the grounds of the plant.

“We know that the accident occurred at 10:40am in a metal hangar 40×40 metres. This is a warehouse of pyrotechnics, which was rented by a private company,” Moscow region governor Andrey Vorobyov said.

The building was rented by a company called Piro-Ross, according to independent media outlet Verstka. The firm also has extensive ties to the military.

According to its website, the fireworks company was set up by defence sector companies and had a longstanding contract with the Russian ministry of defence and provided fireworks displays for Victory Day celebrations in May to mark the end of the second world war.

Other videos on Wednesday showed rubble scattered around the area near the blast, damaging cars and buildings. Local residents picked up glass outside a nearby apartment block where windows were blown out by the force of the blast.

“Emergency services have reported 31 injured, among them three people with serious injuries who are in intensive care,” the Moscow region governor said. “A total of 19 people were taken to the hospital, they are receiving the necessary assistance.”

“People have been evacuated for their safety from all buildings and workshops of the [Zagorsk optical plant], as well as the nearest kindergarten,” he said.

Industrial plants across Russia have been targeted by drone strikes attributed to Ukraine since the start of the war, and in recent weeks drones have been shot down over Moscow, with several crashing into skyscrapers in the capital’s business district.

Russian officials said two armed drones heading to Moscow were shot down in the early hours of Wednesday.

One of the combat drones that were destroyed by Russia’s air defence on Wednesday was shot down near Domodedovo, the other near the Odintsovo suburban area west of Moscow, according to the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

Domodedovo is home to one of Moscow’s three main airports, while the Odintsovo area is near to Vnukovo airport. “At the moment there is no information about casualties from falling debris. Emergency services are working on the spot,” Sobyanin added.