State of emergency declared in Kirzhach district as authorities evacuate at least seven villages amid risk of further blasts
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday the uncontrolled detonation of munitions at a military base in the Vladimir region, located east of the capital, following a fire at the site. The incident has prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency in the Kirzhach district, less than 90 kilometers from Moscow.
“According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. The cause of the fire is a violation of safety requirements while handling explosive materials,” the Ministry of Defense stated in a communiqué published on Telegram.
Firefighting units and personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations were deployed to the site and are working to control the situation and prevent further explosions. Military authorities have also ordered an investigation to determine responsibility.
“A commission has been formed to establish all the circumstances of the incident under the leadership of Deputy Defense Minister Colonel Andrei Buliga. Following the investigation, those responsible will be held accountable,” the Defense Ministry added.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced that the regional government had officially declared a state of emergency in the Kirzhach district. While authorities have not provided specifics on the quantity of munitions affected, the threat of further detonations has led to restricted access in the area.
Officials also confirmed the evacuation of residents in several nearby localities. “All residents of Barsovo are being evacuated to Schools No. 6 and No. 7 in the village of Krasny Oktyabr, in the Kirzhach district,” local authorities reported. Evacuation orders were also issued for the nearby village of Mirnoye.
The governor of Vladimir region, Aleksandr Avdeyev, stated on Telegram that “emergency services are on site” and promised further updates as the investigation progresses. Authorities have yet to clarify whether the depot belonged to a specific unit or the type of weaponry stored at the location.
Russian media reported that at least seven villages have been included in the evacuation operation in an area now under a formal state of emergency.
The incident comes amid heightened alert levels at military installations across the country, where security protocols have been reinforced following several similar accidents in recent years. In June 2022, a munitions explosion at the same facility killed four people, though that event did not require evacuations.
Authorities continue to monitor the perimeter while emergency teams work on-site and the official investigation unfolds. The situation in Kirzhach remains unstable due to the ongoing risk of additional explosions, as assessments of damage and accountability within the military chain of command are still underway.
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