Fire at a Russian defence research facility six people were killed many injured
A fire broke out at a defense research facility in the northwestern Russian city of Tver on Thursday, killing six people and injuring 27 more, according to Tver area authorities. The fire broke out at an administrative facility of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Defense Forces’ Central Research Institute. It swiftly devoured the upper three floors of the building, forcing everyone within to jump from windows and causing the roof to cave in.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by regional military prosecutors. Early investigations, according to the state-run news outlet Tass, pointed to old wiring as a significant reason. The institute focuses on research connected to air and space defense, particularly the development of new anti-aircraft systems, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s website.
В Твери загорелось здание НИИ воздушно-космической обороны. На пожар выехали пожарные расчеты. По данным ТАСС, погибли 2 человека, еще 30 пострадали.https://t.co/GijjUA8CIH pic.twitter.com/3nO56rZ9R9
— Коммерсантъ (@kommersant) April 21, 2022
Videos shared on social media showed thick smoke rising from windows and helicopters dousing the flames with water or some fire retardant.
According to the Russian state-run news agency TASS, the fire was likely sparked by old wiring in the structure. The fire comes nearly two months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
