An explosion occurred at the Avangard military plant in Russia

In the Russian city of Sterlitamak (Bashkortostan), a powerful explosion occurred at the Avangard chemical plant, which fulfills defense orders, after which a large-scale fire broke out.

This is reported by the city administration and Russian Telegram channels.

According to official data, the explosion occurred in one of the workshops of the enterprise. Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene. Firefighters are trying to put out the fire, and rescuers are continuing to search for people under the rubble. Information about the dead and injured is currently being clarified.

According to Baza, the explosion occurred in the third workshop of the plant. Previously, at least five people were injured, three of whom were pulled from the rubble. One of the buildings was seriously damaged, and a large number of ambulances are working on the site. Eyewitnesses also report a strong smell of gunpowder in the air after the incident.

Avangard is one of the oldest defense enterprises in Russia. The plant was founded in 1943 and during World War II produced ammunition, including powder charges for Katyusha rocket systems. After the war, it continued its work in the field of explosives and ammunition production. Today, the enterprise is engaged in ammunition decommissioning, explosives disposal, and the production of special products under the state defense order.

As a reminder, on the night of October 17 , drones attacked temporarily occupied Crimea , causing an oil depot in the village of Hvardiyske to catch fire. Later, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of a number of facilities in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea.