Russian emergency services cite ‘planned’ weapons test after explosion alarms Udmurtia residents

Residents of Russia’s Republic of Udmurtia posted videos to social media on Wednesday that show a large fire towering into the air following an apparent explosion near the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the regional capital of Izhevsk.

According to Russian state media, the plant notified the local emergency services office that the explosion was not an accident but the result of weapons testing. “This was a rocket engine test. It’s not an emergency, it was a planned [event],” a representative reportedly said.

The Votkinsk Machine Building Plant produces military equipment (including Iskander-M, Topol-M, Yars, and Bulava missiles) as well as civilian goods.