Multiple fires destroy military manufacturing plants deep inside Russia

Video shared online depicts the latest fire at a Russian military-industrial manufacturing plant. Information from Ukrainian sources on Telegram and Russia’s Ministry of Transportation Telegram indicates the fire started on Sunday, Dec. 3, and burned through the night. 

🔥A large fire has started at a specialized automotive factory in the east of Moscow. pic.twitter.com/BXG5r5DZwa

— Maria Drutska 🇺🇦 (@maria_drutska) December 3, 2023

Russian reports say the cause of the fire is under investigation. The Moscow Special-Purpose Vehicles Factory manufactures truck trailers and holds Russian government contracts for a “specialized car for a transportable pressure chamber.”

Traditionally, heavy vehicle factories in Russia also produce armored vehicles for the Russian Armed Forces.

This recent fire, covering an area of 21,000 square feet and located just 10 miles from the Kremlin, has not been claimed by Ukrainian forces or partisans. Nevertheless, two fires at manufacturing plants were reported in late November. 

Last night, a major power substation on the grounds of the Russian Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant exploded.

The plant is under the UralVagonZavod conglomerate, and serves as a key part of Russian armored vehicle production, handling T-72 platform engine manufacturing and overhaul. pic.twitter.com/xI0Fops30B

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 27, 2023

On Sunday Nov. 26, an explosion at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant in Russia resulted in a severe fire. The plant produces engines for T-72 and T-90 tanks, Terminator armored fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery. The plant faced sanctions in 2023 from the U.S. and Ukraine for supplying engines to Russian troops.

Ukraine has not commented on the alleged attack; however, if it is responsible, this would mark its most distant attack behind enemy lines during the ongoing war. Chelyabinsk is located over 1,100 miles from the current front line.

According to russian media, the drone attack on the Smolensk aircraft plant this night was successful and two MiG-31s ​​were completely damaged

Theo truyền thông Nga, cuộc tấn công bằng máy bay không người lái của Ukraine vào nhà máy sản xuất máy bay ở Smolensk đêm nay… pic.twitter.com/HNXiEi1Upo

— Henry Quang (@UnghoUkraine) November 28, 2023

Similarly, on Sunday, at the Smolensk Aviation Factory, located 200 miles from the front lines, Russia’s state media reported the downing of dozens of drones during an alleged terrorist attack in the region.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) promptly claimed responsibility for the explosion at the Smolensk Aviation Factory, where the plant produces Kh-59 cruise missiles.

According to The Telegraph, this attack was part of a retaliatory wave of 35 drones launched by Ukraine in response to a Saturday, Nov. 25, attack involving 70 Russian Shahed drones.

This attack wasn’t the first on the Smolensk Aviation Factory. During an October attack, also claimed by Ukrainian intelligence, three of the four UAVs hit the target, causing significant damage to the production facilities.