A massive inferno has swept through a major factory in the Tula region south of Moscow.
The blaze started on September 5 at the Plastik plant in Uzlovaya, after a room containing motor oil caught fire.
The fire quickly engulfed the premises, spreading to cover an area of 2,000 square metres as it burned out of control.
Video images of the inferno show giant flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising into the night sky.
Fifty firefighters rushed to the scene to try and contain the blaze, along with eighteen pieces of equipment.
“Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to three neighbouring industrial buildings,” Russia’s Ministry of Emergencies later aid in a statement.
“No excess concentration of harmful substances in the air was detected at the site of the fire.”
Officials added that there were currently no reports of any casualties.
It is unknown what caused the fire, but anti-war saboteurs have previously targeted industrial sites and transport infrastructure across the country.
The plant specialises in the production of various types of plastic and is a key employer in the city.
Earlier this week, Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks, targeting energy infrastructure and oil refineries in Russia.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, more than 158 Ukrainian drones targeted 15 regions of the country, including the capital Moscow in the early hours of Monday.
As a result of the attack, a fire broke out at an oil refinery in Moscow and at the Konakovo Power Station in Tver – a city located 75 miles from the capital.
Local officials also said drones attempted to attack the Kashira Power Plant in the Moscow region – but that there were no fires, damage or casualties as a result.
Commenting on the drone strike, Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko wrote on his X social media page: “Ukraine has had yet another massive drone attack on Russia, one of the largest ever.
“Given the fact that Russian air defences are so weak in areas beyond immediate war zones (even in Moscow!), Russia should expect a very hot winter of fire and smoke.”
