Updated with revised casualty figures.
A series of blasts and suspected drone assaults in several regions of Russia during the night resulted in at least 12 fatalities and numerous injuries, as reported by local officials and media on Thursday.
Governor Alexei Teksler of the Chelyabinsk region stated that an explosion occurred at a factory in the town of Kopeysk on Wednesday night. By Thursday evening, the death toll had reached 12, with five additional individuals in critical condition.
The governor emphasized that the explosions were not caused by drone attacks.
By noon on Friday, Teksler mentioned that 29 people had sustained injuries, with five hospitalized in severe condition, while 11 individuals were still unaccounted for.
According to independent local media, hundreds of residents gathered in a central square in Kopeysk to honor the victims and to seek information about the missing workers. They compelled the local labor union leader to announce the names of the 12 confirmed deceased employees.
Later, Governor Teksler was observed laying flowers at a makeshift memorial, while Alexander Balashov, CEO of Plastmass, expressed to residents, “It’s difficult to comprehend” the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“Our primary objective now is to meet the state defense order, which is vital for our country’s future. I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives,” he was quoted by the local news outlet 74.ru.
Independent media identified the factory as Plastmass, a manufacturer of artillery ammunition for the Russian military that is facing Western sanctions.
Another explosion occurred late at night in the southern city of Stavropol, close to a military installation. Reports indicated that an explosive-laden baby stroller had been abandoned near a bus stop.
A woman suffered shrapnel injuries, and a man was arrested and charged with terrorism, according to the Kommersant business newspaper.
Officials in the Bryansk and Belgorod regions, which border Ukraine, reported two civilian deaths attributed to Ukrainian drones targeting vehicles.
Additionally, in the Ryazan region, Governor Pavel Malkov stated that debris from Ukrainian drones ignited a fire at an industrial site. The independent outlet Astra, citing local residents, reported that the Ryazan oil refinery was struck, but no casualties were noted.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting or shooting down 139 Ukrainian drones overnight.
This included 56 drones over Belgorod, 22 over Bryansk, and 14 over Ryazan.
