Fire at a weapons research facility in Tver was followed hours later by reports of a blaze at key chemical plant in Kineshma.
Seven people have been killed after a huge fire broke out at a key Russian defence research institute in Tver, north-west of Moscow, according to reports.
The incident was followed hours later by unconfirmed reports of a fire at one of Russia’s largest chemical plants.
Images on social media purported to show a large fire at the Dmitrievsky chemical plant in Kinsehma about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Moscow.
Not sure Ukraine would be be behind these, more likely climate change, but while we're talking about fires in Russia.
Siberia burns whilst Putin wages war
According to the TASS news agency many Russians are co-opting a pro-war hashtag to raise awareness of fast-spreading wildfires in Siberia and to highlight the government’s inaction.euroweeklynews.com
Very odd stuff. It does look like the work of some long-range special ops group, but where's the tactical or strategic advantage? The Tver building seems to have been an important design, and in the long-run a major loss for the Russian side - but how is it relevant to short-term battlefield situation?
Feels like accusations of Western involvement can't be far away.
The accusation would make the Russian leadership look weak though.Feels like accusations of Western involvement can't be far away.
The accusation would make the Russian leadership look weak though.
It is also quite plausible that it's on the deniable playbook for a western country supporting the Ukrainian state.
A series of blasts have reportedly been heard in the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border while an ammunition depot was also reported to be on fire, local officials said according to a Reuters report.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said an ammunition depot in the province caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday, the news agency said. Gladkov said no civilians had been hurt by the fire which broke out at a facility near Staraya Nelidovka village.
The Belgorod province borders Ukraine’s Luhansk, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, all of which have seen heavy fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine two months ago. LINK
I suspect this one was a direct strike by Urkaine, as it's only around 15-20 miles from their border.
Very odd stuff. It does look like the work of some long-range special ops group, but where's the tactical or strategic advantage? The Tver building seems to have been an important design, and in the long-run a major loss for the Russian side - but how is it relevant to short-term battlefield situation?
Makes sense. I suppose, also in a Russian context where it's still all "command and control" a blow at this or that point will wound the beast in ways it can't compensate for. Even if it just has nuisance value, the beast can't really deal with an accumulation of nuisances.Maybe it's as simple as Ukraine doing what they can with what they have. They realise they have a reliable asset in Tver (who must have a brass arsehole) so they send him or her round to set the bins on fire at the Institute of Whatever.
Moscow