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A Russian missile factory has exploded after workers claimed they were just ‘testing’ the weapons.
Footage shows the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant, which produces strategic rockets used in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bursting into flames in the village of Yagul near Izhevsk.
Officials in Zavyalovsky District told TASS the explosion occurred during a planned ‘test of rocket engines’.
The Kremlin initially refused to acknowledge an explosion had occurred at all.
A notice was posted saying: ‘The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia does not confirm a powerful explosion on the territory of the Votkinsk plant.’
But this was removed 30 minutes later.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosion, although they have targeted defence plants in Russia before.
Massive explosion at testing site of Russia’s Votkinsk Machine Building Plant (Picture: social media/e2w)
Vladimir Putin inspecting the plant in 2011 (Picture: Premier.gov/e2w)
A Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile launcher (Picture: Reuters)
The plant produces major Russian missiles including the Topol-M, and the Iskander-M and Tochka-U missiles.
One of Putin’s representatives Igor Komarov visited the location on January 26.
It was claimed it was a ‘planned event’ yet it is believed locals were not advised of the terrifying explosion in advance.
A Telegram channel questioned whether the explosion was ‘normal’ with powerful flames shooting into the air.
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