Massive explosion at Russian defence plant near Moscow sends mushroom cloud into sky after ‘kamikaze drones’ spotted

A Russian defence-related plant was being evacuated today after a major explosion. A drone strike was first reported but then denied at the Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant in Sergiyev Posad, 46 miles northeast of Moscow. And 9 August 2023 explosion at Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant, Moscow region, Russia A huge mushroom cloud was seen over the city.A witness said “the whole plant is in ruins”. A total of 25 were wounded but a rising toll of casualties was feared. Rescuers were searching under the rubble. The cause of the blast was not clear and under investigation amid Ukrainian drone and sabotage attacks around Russia linked to Putin’s war. An evacuation of the plant and the area around it was ordered.“ It’s terrible, the whole plant is destroyed,” said a witness.“I’m shocked. “Imagine, we were just thrown back [by the blast] in the welding section.”It’s just awful.” A report said the whole town was ordered to evacuate . The governor of the Moscow region Andrey Vorobyov left for the site of the explosion. Shot media said: “The explosion in Sergiyev Posad…occurred in a warehouse of fireworks and pyrotechnics.“The PiroRos company rents premises on the territory of the plant.” This company has links to defence companies. The plant itself is one of the main developers and manufacturers of a wide range of observation devices, medical equipment for diagnosing and treating diseases of eye tissues and vessels, fluorographs and X-ray image intensifiers, as well as various photometric devices. It is a leading enterprise for the development and serial production of binoculars and monoculars, and is believed to have links to Vladimir Putin’s defence ministry. Emergency services were working to evacuate the plant’s employees.According to eyewitnesses, a fire broke out at the plant after the explosion