A deadly blast and fire erupted at the Elastik munitions plant in the Ryazan region, killing at least three and injuring about 20. Investigations point to a safety violation.
Explosion and Fire at Elastik Ammunition Plant
On August 15, a blast followed by a fire erupted at the Elastik munitions factory in Russia’s Ryazan region. At least three people were killed and around 20 injured, though casualty numbers may rise. Russian media report that an equipment failure related to broken safety regulations likely caused the explosion.
Evacuation of Over 100 Employees
More than 100 personnel were evacuated from the damaged facility. People remain trapped under rubble, with difficult access to them. Local authorities convened a crisis committee and the Ryazan governor, Paweł Małkow, responded at the scene.
Previous Explosion at Elastik Factory in 2021
The Elastik plant, producing missile ammunition, aircraft armaments and generators for submarines, suffered an earlier explosion in 2021 that killed 17 people. Subsequent criminal proceedings investigated safety breaches, leading to convictions of the founder and CEO.
Additional Context
For further details, see the article “A 17‑year‑old had to give birth and hide it in a wardrobe. The hospital revealed new information.”
