Three people died and five were injured when an explosion collapsed a building at the Avangard chemical plant in the city of Sterlitamak, according to Radiy Khabirov , the head of Russia’s Bashkortostan region. The cause remains unclear, but authorities ruled out a drone attack.
All the victims were women, including a 23-year-old, according to Radiy Khabirov. Two of the injured were seriously hurt; all five were hospitalized in Ufa. Search efforts continued through the night before all the victims were recovered, he said.
Khabirov added that criminal investigators are examining the site and emphasized that “there was an explosion,” but not a UAV strike. He said the plant, which he described as old but fulfilling “an important state task,” will receive assistance to assess repairs and identify contractors.
The plant is used to handle explosives and ammunition. Russian media reported that Avangard produces weapons and munitions used in the war in Ukraine, according to The Moscow Times.
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