Three people have been killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in southern Russia. The cause of the blast remains unclear.
According to Russian media, the Avangard plant in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, produces weapons and ammunition for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Bashkiria’s governor, Radiy Khabirov, said on Telegram on Saturday that “a fairly powerful explosion destroyed one of the buildings” at the site, killing three women. He added that five others were injured and taken to hospital, two of them in serious condition.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion. The governor noted that the facility “handles explosives” and plays an important state-mandated role.
Just a month ago, Ukrainian drones targeted the same region, striking a major oil refinery. On September 18, Ukraine attacked Gazprom’s state-owned refinery in Bashkiria as part of a broader campaign aimed at reducing Russian energy revenues used to fund the war effort.
