17.10.2025
On Friday, October 17, a powerful explosion occurred at the Russian military plant “Avangard” in the city of Sterlitamak (Bashkortostan). As a result, there are injuries.
As Russian channels note, according to preliminary information, the building of one of the factory’s workshops collapsed as a result of the explosion.
Many ambulances and fire engines rushed to the plant. Six people are currently known to have been injured. Three were pulled from the rubble.
Evacuation and clearing of rubble are ongoing. The number of victims could be much higher.
Later, it was reported in the public that the explosion occurred during an attempt to start the workshop. The cause was the formation of explosive vapor in the installation due to a violation of the mixture concentration proportions.
As a result of the explosion, two floors of the building collapsed. The total area of the workshop is 2,100 square meters.
There were 15 people in the building at the time of the explosion.
The clearing of the rubble continues. There is no information about the dead yet. Two workers remain under the rubble, they are showing signs of life. Rescuers are trying to find them by shouting. The fate of five more employees is unknown.
What is known about the Avangard plant?
The Sterlitamak Military Plant “Avangard” was founded in 1943 during World War II. It became one of the key enterprises in the USSR for the production of ammunition, including powder charges for the Katyusha multiple rocket launcher systems.
In the post-war years, Avangard continued its activities, specializing in the production of explosives and ammunition.
Currently, the Avangard plant is owned by the Russian state corporation Rostec and fulfills defense orders. It produces parts for multiple launch rocket systems and explosives.
After the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the volume of orders for the plant increased several times, which required modernization of the enterprise. In 2023, 100% of Avangard’s shares were transferred to Rostec.
The plant is under sanctions by the European Union, as well as Switzerland and Ukraine.
As OBOZ.UA reported, a similar incident at this plant occurred in August 2024. Then the cause of the explosion was “ignition of a gas-air mixture” when a repair crew dismantled a pipeline in one of the workshops. Three deaths were reported – the workers received fatal thermal burns.
Wonderful! Superb! Splendid!
“As a result of the explosion, two floors of the building collapsed”
That means the place is most likely destroyed and not just damaged.
Excellent work by the drone debris crew.
👍🇺🇦✌️