Insane moment Russian engine plant used to repair tanks explodes
The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant in central Russia, used to repair armored tanks, exploded on Sunday night, according to reports.
Footage shows Russian Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant explosion
This is the insane moment a central Russian tractor plant used to repair tanks exploded in a fiery eruption on Sunday night.
The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant - a facility under US sanctions for its role in building and repairing Russian battle tanks, armored fighting vehicles, and artillery systems - is located east of the Ural Mountains in central Russia.
The plant is under the UralVagonZavod conglomerate and serves as a key part of Russian armored vehicle production - it is considered the largest main battle tank producer in the world with some 30,000 employees.
Videos posted to social media show the plant, close to the border with Kazakhstan, purportedly shot on Sunday night.
The footage shows a large fire erupting and smoke billowing over the facility. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage done to the plant is not yet clear.
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Since Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many Russian military-industrial sites have been targeted and damaged by fires and explosions.
While some of the incidents have been attributed to Ukrainian special forces operations, most remain unexplained.
According to The Moscow Times, Sunday’s fire was caused by a short circuit.
Six fire engines and two ambulances arrived at the scene, and there was no information about casualties, the Times reported.
Russia’s emergency ministry said the fire was under control as of Monday morning.
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The plant handles T-72 platform engine manufacturing and overhaul, which has formed the backbone of Moscow’s armored effort in Ukraine.
The engines for the BMPT Terminator infantry fighting vehicle and self-propelled artillery platforms are also made at the facility.
The White House said in May 2022 that the plant had been put under international sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The White House wrote: “Russia’s two major tank plants - UralVagonZavod Corporation and Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant - have halted work due to lack of foreign components.”
Fresh sanctions were imposed on the facility this year from the State Department and Ukraine for its role in manufacturing engines and weapons.
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