A powerful explosion in the city of Kopeysk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, occurred on the night of October 23rd, sparking heated discussions in the country. The regional governor, Alexey Teksler, provided information about the consequences of the accident through his Telegram channel. According to him, nine people have been killed so far, and five others have been injured.
"Doctors are making every effort, the condition of the victims is being stabilized. Information about missing persons is being clarified," Teksler said.
According to the governor, the version that the explosion was caused by drones has not yet been confirmed. At the same time, the authorities did not disclose the names of any factories. However, local media and the publication Astra, citing witnesses, reported that the incident occurred at the "Plastmass" plant in Kopeysk.
This enterprise is engaged in the production of weapons and ammunition. Witnesses said that three drones arrived in the area. After the explosion, a drone attack warning was issued on the factory grounds. According to the "112" Telegram channel, 15 workers were on duty at the site at the time of the explosion.
The Ukrainian OSINT project Exilenova+ also released a video from the scene. Their message stated:
"This plant is very reminiscent of the recently exploded chemical plant in the Bryansk region. Both enter Russia's military-industrial complex and produce products that support operations against Ukraine."
So far, neither the General Staff of Ukraine nor the Russian Ministry of Defense has given an official comment.
Second explosion in a week
This is the second largest explosion in Russia in recent weeks. On October 18, a similar accident occurred at the "Avangard" enterprise in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan. At that time, three people were killed and five were injured.
The head of the region, Radiy Khabirov, then refused to link the incident to a drone attack:
"There are various rumors, but this is not a drone attack. This is a simple explosion. Experts are currently investigating the cause," he said.
"Avangard" is part of the "Rostex" concern and is engaged in the production and disposal of weapons and military equipment.
Against the backdrop of active fighting in Ukraine
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that on October 21, it struck a chemical plant in the Bryansk region. The statement emphasized that Storm Shadow air defense missiles were used and bypassed the Russian air defense system.
According to reports, the Bryansk Chemical Plant plays an important role in Russia's military industry - it produces gunpowder, rocket fuel, and ammunition used in anti-Ukrainian operations.
Analysts note that explosions and fires at military facilities in Russia have increased in recent weeks. They attribute this to the intensification of drone and missile attacks from Ukraine.
So far, official Moscow has not openly acknowledged the trace of Ukraine in any incident, but local sources each time put forward versions of a "malfunction in the production process" or a "technical error."
Conclusion
The Kopeysk disaster raised further questions about the safety of military-industrial facilities in Russia. The reasons for the incident have not yet been officially announced, but some analysts say that this could be the beginning of a new wave against important military factories in Russia.
Local residents are still talking about the nighttime explosions and drones in the sky - security measures have already been strengthened in Kopeysk.
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