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Large-scale fire in Novosibirsk, Russia: eyewitnesses report explosions.
December 26, 2022.
A large fire has broken out in warehouses in the Russian city of Novosibirsk; the fire covered an estimated 1,800 square metres, and witnesses reported explosions.
Source: Local news outlets – NGS, Novosibirsk News, Novaya Sibir; Russian Telegram channels
Details: Russian local outlets report that a two-storey warehouse building made of sandwich panels at 2nd Stantsionnaya street, 30 is on fire. The warehouse is completely engulfed in flames, the structures collapsed, and there is a threat to neighbouring buildings. According to Russia’s Ministry of Emergencies, the fire is being put out by more than 70 people and 20 units of equipment.
Russian internet community Incident Novosibirsk posts many photos and videos of the fire and notes that there is a "terrible smell of plastic" on Stantsionnaya Street due to the fire.
Background:
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The number of large-scale fires has recently increased in Russia.
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Only in the last two weeks there have been about a dozen of fires, including those at oil refineries in Siberia, oil depot in Surazh district of Bryansk Oblast, large shopping centres in Moscow and Moscow Oblast, thermal power plant in Perm, oil storage facility at the airfield in Kursk, Slava plant in Bryansk Oblast, etc.
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Blast at Russian base after apparent Ukrainian drone penetrates deep.
December 25, 2022.
KYIV (Reuters) - A drone believed to be Ukrainian penetrated hundreds of kilometers through Russian airspace, causing a deadly explosion at the main base for Moscow's strategic bombers in the latest attack to expose gaps in its air defences.
Moscow on Monday said it had shot the drone down causing it to crash at the Engels air base, where three service members were killed. Under its usual policy on incidents inside Russia, Ukraine did not comment.
The base, the main airfield for the bombers that Kyiv says Moscow has used in recent months to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, is hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian frontier. The same planes are also designed to launch nuclear-capable missiles as part of Russia's long-term strategic deterrent.
A suspected drone already struck it on Dec. 5, exposing what was widely described at the time as a humiliating hole in Russia's air defences that the latest attack suggests Moscow has yet to plug.
The Russian defence ministry said in a statement no planes were damaged, but Russian and Ukrainian social media accounts said several had been destroyed. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports.
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Siberia's largest oil refinery on fire second time this month; fatalities reported.
December 15, 2022.
At night [on 14-15 December], an explosion occurred in the Russian city of Angarsk, Irkutsk Oblast, and a major fire broke out at an oil refinery, killing 2 people and injuring 5.
Source: Igor Kobzev, governor of the region, on Telegram.
Quote from Kobzev: "A major fire at the technological installation of the industrial site of the Angarsk petrochemical company in Angarsk.
Unfortunately, two employees were killed in an explosion and fire on the territory of the ANKHK."
Details: According to the Russian governor, 5 more people were injured, and one person was hospitalized in a moderate condition.
The fire covered about 2,500 square meters, and more than 100 people and 25 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing it.
Later, Kobzev said that the fire was contained.
According to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation, the preliminary cause of the incident was gas contamination of the technological installation systems.
A criminal investigation was opened into this event and a commission was created to examine the circumstances of the fire.
For reference: Angarsk petrochemical company, which belongs to Russian oil giant Rosneft, is the largest oil production company in Siberia's east. Its output is 10.2 million tonnes of oil a year.
Previously: A little less than three weeks ago, on 27 November, another large-scale fire occurred on the company's premises. The authorities reported no casualties then, but never specified the cause of the fire. A special commission was established to find out why the plant caught on fire.
Background:
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The number of major fires in Russia has grown lately.
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Over the last two weeks, about ten such fires took place: an oil refinery in Siberia, an oil depot in Bryansk Oblast, shopping malls in Moscow and Moscow Oblast, a thermal power plant in Perm, an oil facility at an airfield in Kursk, and the Slava plant in Bryansk Oblast caught fire.
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A shopping center is burning again near Moscow: the fire area is 10 thousand square meters.
12 DECEMBER 2022.
In the Moscow region of Russia, the second shopping center in the last three days is burning, the fire area is about 10 thousand square meters.
Source: TASS with reference to the regional Ministry of Emergencies of Russia, RIA Novosti.
Details: The fire occurred in the shopping center "Stroypark" in the city of Balashikha. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that building materials were engaged in an open area on an area of 200 square meters. The fire occurred on the ground floor of a two-story building, in the roofing space. Later, the fire area increased to 700 square meters.
Fires are assigned an increased level of complexity. There is at least one victim. According to media reports, a security guard was injured. All employees of the shopping center were evacuated.
Updated at 09:36: RIA Novosti reports that the area of the fire has increased to 10 thousand square meters.
Updated at 10:39 a.m.: The roof of the shopping center collapsed on an area of 900 squares. The previous cause of ignition is a short lock.
Updated at 11:24 a.m.: Firefighters eliminated open burning.
What preceded this: Three days ago in Moscow there was a large-scale fire in the shopping center "MEGA Khimki", its area reached 17 thousand square meters.
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In Moscow – large-scale fire in the shopping center, MEGA Khimki. Explosions are heard.
9 DECEMBER 2022.
In Moscow, there was a large-scale fire in the shopping center "MEGA Khimki", its area reached 17 thousand square meters. Explosions are heard at the scene.
Source: Moscow Ministry of Emergency Situations, Baza.
Details: The fire started in the warehouse of the OBI store.
Then the fire engulfed the entire area of the supermarket, and explosions of gas cylinders and cans of paint began.
Due to explosions, aviation cannot join in extinguishing the fire.
The building of the shopping center collapses.
Source: Moscow Ministry of Emergency Situations, Baza.
Details: The fire started in the warehouse of the OBI store.
Then the fire engulfed the entire area of the supermarket, and explosions of gas cylinders and cans of paint began.
Due to explosions, aviation cannot join in extinguishing the fire.
The building of the shopping center collapses.
The previous cause of the fire was a short circuit or arson.
At least one person died as a result of the fire.
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Not only Kursk: Drones attack Slava plant in Bryansk Oblast – Russian media
6 DECEMBER 2022
On the morning of 6 December, Russian media outlets reported that last night UAVs attacked the Slava plant in Bryansk Oblast in Russia. A fire broke out as a result.
Source: Russian independent media outlet Baza and Telegram-channels
Quote: "In Bryansk Oblast, unmanned aerial vehicles attacked the Slava plant. They landed a few metres away from tanks with fuel."
Details: Reportedly, two drones entered the air space of the plant located 80 km from the Russian-Ukrainian border. They fell down and exploded three metres away from the tankers with diesel fuel.
At the moment, five-ton tankers were empty, so a serious fire was avoided.
According to Baza, this very plant was previously attacked with drones on 30 November. After the UAV attack, three tankers caught fire on the territory of the plant.
Background:
- In the early morning hours on 6 December, Roman Starovoyt, the governor of Kursk Oblast in Russia, reported that a fire started at the airbase in the Russian city of Kursk. He stated that as a result of the drone attack, an oil storage tank caught fire near the Kursk airbase.
- The authorities of Kursk Oblast in Russia decided to cancel classes in two schools and prolonged the yellow level of terrorist attack threat for two weeks after the fire at the Kursk airbase.
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Another large-scale fire at oil depot in Russia.
30 NOVEMBER 2022
Early on 30 November, a fire broke out at tanks containing petroleum products in the Surazhsky District of Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine.
Source: RBC, a Russian news agency, citing Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk Oblast; Russian public channels on Telegram
Quote from Bogomaz: "Fire and rescue teams are working at the scene. The fire area is 1800 sq.m. More than 80 people and 30 appliances, including a fire-fighting train, were involved in extinguishing the fire."
Details: Later, the governor added that the fire had been contained, and extinguishing was ongoing.
Telegram channels posted photos and videos from the scene.
Even later, Russian media wrote that the fire had been extinguished.
The cause of the fire was not reported.
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Largest oil refinery in Siberia on fire
27 NOVEMBER 2022
A fire broke out on the territory of the Angarsk petrochemical plant in the Irkutsk Oblast, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.
Source: RIA Novosti, Kremlin-aligned news agency
Details: Reports of the fire came in at 9:00 local time; it was extinguished at 13:17, in an operation that took more than 100 people and 25 pieces of equipment.
Early reports claimed that there were no casualties.
The causes of the fire have not been disclosed; the local government created a special commission and will find out why the plant caught fire.
Background: Angarsk petrochemical plant, which is a part of Rosneft [Russian energy company – ed.], is the largest company in Siberia’s east that produces petroleum products and petrochemicals. Its production capacity is 10.2 million tonnes of oil per year.
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