A huge explosion was reported in Zagorskiy Optical and Mechanical plant near Moscow
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 9, 2023
The factory had contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is part of Shvabe Holding, which is producing sights, thermal imagers, laser rangefinders, and other similar products.… pic.twitter.com/BTPMd8cxvy
The factory had contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is part of Shvabe Holding, which produces sights, thermal imagers, laser rangefinders, and other similar products. Shvabe Holding, in turn, is part of Russian State Corporation Rostec. Rostec comprises about 800 enterprises, which together form 15 holding companies, mostly in the defense-industry complex.
This particular Zagorsk factory was already on fire on 9 June 2022, as per Defense Express. Then, a fire started on the roof of a production premises.
Due to a powerful explosion, windows were broken in neighboring buildings. After the explosion, a total evacuation was announced, while military forces and the head of the district arrived at the location, Russian media RIA Novosti reported.
Due to a powerful explosion in Zagorskiy Optical and Mechanical military plant near Moscow, windows were broken in neighboring buildings, while the fire continues.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 9, 2023
????by locals via https://t.co/i5QgVzaFVN pic.twitter.com/ui9hK66rWk
Russian media TASS also wrote that the “human factor” became the cause of the explosion. The explosion itself reportedly happened in the hangar with pyrotechnics.
At the same time, the Russian Telegram channel Cheka-OGPU claims it spoke to the employees of one of the workshops who say that something flew into it.
“Something flew. First, there was a whistle, then the light flashed and an explosion… Both magnesium and gunpowder were [stored] there,” an employee said.
As was reported, Ukraine conducted a drone attack on Moscow a few hours before the explosion, on the night of 9 August 2023, which Moscow authorities claimed to have repelled. Also, several drones attacked Moscow on 30 July and 1 August 2023, damaging one of the Russian Ministry of Defense buildings and Moscow City highrise, where several Russian ministries have offices.