Chain detonations hit one of Russia’s largest ammunition depots; Ministry of Defense cites security failure
On the morning of April 22, a powerful explosion occurred at the 51st arsenal of the Main Directorate of Missile and Artillery (GRAU) of the Russian Ministry of Defense, located in the village of Barsovo, in the Vladimir region, east of Moscow. The incident triggered secondary detonations, and images of the explosions are widely circulating on local Telegram channels.
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According to preliminary reports, there are no casualties, although the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
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One of Russia’s largest arsenals
The arsenal covers an area of approximately 3.5 km² and, according to reports, can store up to 274,000 tons of ammunition. The facility features fortified bunkers for storage as well as open areas for loading and unloading, which are more susceptible to incidents—especially drone attacks.
A month earlier, the site had been targeted by a reported attack from Ukrainian UAVs, according to sources in Russian Telegram channels. At the time, the damage was minimal.
Official Statement from the Ministry of Defense
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation confirmed the incident:
“On April 22, as a result of a fire at a military unit in the Vladimir region, the ammunition stored in a depot detonated. Regular firefighters from the military unit and the Ministry of Emergency Situations were called in to contain the fire.”
The ministry attributes the preliminary cause of the fire to a violation of safety requirements when handling explosive materials.
An investigation has been launched
At the direction of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, a commission has been set up to investigate the incident, led by Deputy Minister of Defense, Colonel General A.M. Bulyga.
“After the investigation is completed, those responsible will be duly punished,” the ministry stated.
Source and images: Ministry of Defense of Russia | OperativnoZSU
