MOSCOW — At least five civilians were killed and 20 others injured on Friday after a massive explosion ripped through the Elastik gunpowder plant near Ryazan, about 160 kilometers southeast of Moscow, Russian officials said. Ten of the wounded are in serious condition.
The blast sparked a large fire, and authorities warned that more victims may be trapped under the rubble. Regional governor Pavel Malkov said an emergency headquarters had been set up, with rescue crews and fire brigades deployed to the scene. The cause remains unclear, though Russian media suggested possible safety violations. The Elastik plant has a troubled history — a 2021 explosion there killed 17 workers.
The incident came just hours before the Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding to a tense backdrop.
Ukrainian Strikes on Energy and Military Targets
At the same time, Ukraine carried out overnight drone strikes on a Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast and hit a vessel docked at the port of Olya on the Caspian Sea, allegedly transporting Iranian-supplied weapons, according to local and international reports.
On the battlefield, Russian forces are reportedly close to encircling Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk, according to open-source mapping site DeepState.
Zelenskyy’s Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was incurring “significant losses” in its attempt to gain leverage ahead of Putin’s meeting with Trump. He added that Kyiv was fully aware of Moscow’s strategy and was keeping international partners updated.
