Explosion and Major Fire Reported at Avangard Defense Plant in Russia’s Bashkortostan

An explosion occurred at the Avangard chemical plant in the city of Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, followed by a large fire. The incident was reported by the Sterlitamak city administration and by the Russian pro-government Telegram channel Baza on October 17.

According to the Sterlitamak mayor’s office, the explosion took place in one of the plant’s workshops. Emergency and response services are currently working at the scene.

Meanwhile, Baza reported that the blast occurred in the plant’s third workshop. Unconfirmed reports suggest that five people were injured in the incident, and one of the factory’s buildings was heavily damaged.

The Avangard chemical plant in Sterlitamak was established in 1943 during World War II. It became one of the key facilities producing ammunition, including propellant charges for the Katyusha multiple rocket launcher systems.

Today, the plant manufactures weapons and munitions under state defense contracts. It also produces chemical products, industrial explosives, packaging materials, and wooden components; handles the disposal of weapons and military equipment; and conducts research and design work.

Avangard is part of the Russian state corporation Rostec. In February 2024, the company was added to the European Union’s sanctions list.

Previously, a series of drone strikes hit an oil storage facility in Hvardiiske, a settlement in Russian-occupied Crimea, according to the monitoring channel Crimean Wind on October 17.

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