An explosion has been reported in southern Russia, prompting speculation that a Russian defense manufacturing plant sustained damage early on Thursday.
Viktor Shchygrev, the mayor of the city of Biysk in the country's Siberian Altai region, said in a brief post to Telegram on Thursday that residents had "heard a bang in the area of the industrial zone," but wrote there was "no reason to worry." He did not provide any additional details.
Footage circulated online shows a column of smoke rising into the sky. It is not possible to independently verify when and where the video was recorded.
Russian sources claimed the site of the explosion was a state-run military research center in Biysk, described by a local Telegram channel as a "high-security plant." The plant is named by Russian sources as the Federal Research and Production Center in Altai.
The site is owned by Russian space agency Roscosmos, according to independent Russian outlet Meduza.
It "produces, among other things, ammunition, solid propellant charges for rocket engines and explosives for industrial purposes," Meduza said. The weapons research and production facility has been sanctioned by Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.
Newsweek reached out to the Federal Research and Production Center in Altai and the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.
The Federal Research and Production Center has described itself as working towards "the creation and development of new technologies at the level of world standards."
The facility has manufactured military products used by Moscow in its operations against Ukraine, according to the Ukraine-based War and Sanctions database, which tracks sanctions leveled at Russia.
Facilities producing military equipment, like ammunition and parts for rocket engines, are part of a wider ramping up of Russia's military-industrial complex as the war in Ukraine fast approaches its second anniversary.
At the turn of the new year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was "significantly" increasing weapons manufacturing in the country, according to remarks reported by Russian state news agency Tass. Some Western sources doubt whether Russia placing its economy on a war footing will be enough to sustain its needs for ammunition in the now attritional war with Ukraine.
"Russian defense industry plants are doing a tremendous amount of work now," Putin said earlier this month, adding that state workers were now working "constantly" to up production of vital military equipment.
Update 2/15/24, 8:42 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and to note that Newsweek reached out to the Federal Research and Production Center in Altai and the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more
