An explosion at a factory near Moscow is said to have injured 56 people and killed one. Is there a drone attack behind it?
After a violent explosion on the site of a suspected armaments factory near Moscow, the Russian authorities declared a disaster. This was announced by the city administration of Sergiyev Posad, a city about 70 kilometers northeast of the capital.
The official number of injured rose to 56 by the evening. One worker at the plant died of her injuries, according to state media reports. Five other injured are said to be in mortal danger. Eight people have not yet been found, mayor Dmitry Akulov said, according to the Interfax agency.
Drone attack speculation
Photos and videos showed a large column of smoke rising over the city in the morning. There was speculation on the Internet that the Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant (SOMS) was the target of a drone attack. The company manufactures optical equipment for military use. According to Russian authorities, the explosion happened in a warehouse of the pyrotechnics manufacturer Piro-Ross. The company was founded in 1994 by four armaments companies. According to the address, the company is located on the SOMS site.
The city administration spoke of a violation of security measures as the cause. The version of a drone attack was rejected by official bodies, and the information cannot be independently verified. Russia has been systematically shelling the neighboring country’s territory since the start of its war of aggression against Ukraine 17 months ago. For several months there have been suspected Ukrainian counterattacks with drones, which have hit border regions, but also Moscow.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
