An explosion has been reported in Biysk, a city in Russia’s Altai region, raising concerns about potential damage to a defense manufacturing plant early on Thursday. According to Mayor Viktor Shchygrev, residents heard a loud noise in the industrial zone area, but he assured them that there was no immediate cause for alarm. The mayor did not provide further details about the incident.
While online footage shows a column of smoke rising into the sky, the source and timing of the video are still unverified. Russian sources have indicated that the explosion occurred at a state-run military research center in Biysk, referred to as a “high-security plant” by local channels. The facility is identified as the Federal Research and Production Center in Altai.
The plant is reportedly owned by the Russian space agency Roscosmos and is involved in the production of various items, including ammunition, solid propellant charges for rocket engines, and industrial explosives, as reported by independent Russian outlet Meduza. This weapons research and production facility has faced sanctions from Ukraine, the U.S., and the European Union.
As the situation continues to unfold, more information regarding the explosion is anticipated. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more details become available.