Ukraine-News: ++ Violent explosion at factory complex near Moscow ++

BMore than 45 people were injured in the deadly blast in the city of Serkiev Posat, 70 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Russian state agency TASS reported an explosion at the factory site on Wednesday morning for reasons that were initially unknown. Viewers on social networks suspected a drone attack. Doss, citing emergency services, contradicted this account.

The news agency reported that the warehouse where the pyrotechnics were stored was suspected. Online news channel Mash reported that the camp was rented by a pyrotechnics company.

The affected factory manufactures optical equipment, and is said to be for military use. Photos and videos showing a huge column of smoke in the sky were posted on social networks. The governor of the Moscow Region, Andrei Vorobyov, announced that he would visit the popular tourist town of Sergeyev Posad to get an idea of ​​the situation there.

Russia, which has been waging a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine for more than 17 months, has become the target of enemy drone strikes in recent weeks. The capital Moscow was particularly affected. However, the number of damage and casualties bears no relation to the outcome of the war in the invaded Ukraine.

All Improvements in Live Ticker:

12:46 pm – Ukraine opens border crossing with Russia for returning refugees

Ukraine says it will open its border crossing with Russia, which has been closed since the start of the war, to allow Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Russia to return home. “Exit through the humanitarian corridor Kolotilovka – Pokrovka (from Russia) is possible and necessary!” said Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk. The crossing between the Ukrainian region of Sumy and the Russian region of Belgorod has been open since Saturday. According to Wereshchuk, hundreds of people use this option every day.

Since the direct route to the areas controlled by Ukrainian troops is often blocked by the front lines, many Ukrainians in the occupied territories in the east and south are forced to seek protection from heavy fighting everywhere from enemy Russia. In addition, Kiev and Western observers repeatedly point to the abduction of Ukrainians by Russian troops. To return from Russia to the Ukrainian-controlled part of their country, refugees previously had to accept detours through EU countries or Georgia.

12:27 pm – Russia wants to reinforce troops on western borders

Russia is increasing its forces on its western border. According to official reports, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu justified the move by saying that NATO member Poland had already announced that it was strengthening its military presence. Finland, a new NATO member, also expects a significant amount of troops and weapons from the Atlantic alliance, Shoigu explains.

According to the official PAP news agency, the Polish government has announced that it will deploy 2,000 additional soldiers to the border with Belarus, replacing the original 1,000. It also aims to prevent illegal immigration from countries friendly to Russia.

11:17 am – Experts say drones are becoming increasingly important in naval warfare

According to British assessments, Ukrainian maritime drones pose a threat to Russia. In its daily update, the British Ministry of Defense looked at the attacks against the Russian tanker “Shik” and the landing ship “Olenegorsky Kornzhak”. An attack on Russian patrol boats escorting the Russian merchant ship “Sparta IV” was repelled earlier, the British wrote on Twitter.

Although the ships fly civilian flags, the “Sparta IV” and “Sik” have long been tasked with transporting fuel and military supplies between Russia and Syria, it said. Since February 28, 2022, Russian warships will not be able to cross the Bosphorus, so Russian forces in Syria and the Mediterranean depend on the Sikh, Sparta IV and a handful of civilian ships.

“These attacks show that UAV operations are becoming an important part of modern naval warfare and can be used against threats to Russia’s maritime supply routes,” the ministry wrote in London.

11:00 a.m. – Kiev reports repulsing Russian offensive in the east

According to the Ukrainian military, it has successfully repelled Russian attacks in the east. “Fierce fighting is taking place,” said Andriy Kovalyov, a spokesman for the General Staff. More than 30 clashes have taken place in the past one day. He emphasized Russian advances near the village of Sinkivka, nearly ten kilometers from the city of Kubyansk in the Kharkiv region, which was liberated by the Ukrainians last year. In addition, there were Russian counter-attacks in the southern neighboring Donetsk region of the Russian-controlled city of Bakhmut near Klishchiivka.

According to Kovalio, Ukrainian troops are continuing their own offensive efforts in the Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions. However, he did not provide more specific information about the gains on the ground.

10:00 am – Rheinmetall prepares to export Belgian Leopard tanks to Ukraine

According to a media report, arms group Rheinmetall is preparing to export Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine. For this, the company has purchased 50 old Leopard 1 tanks from Belgian company OIP Land Systems, the company said.HandelsblattCiting industry sources.

Initially, Belgian media reported the purchase of 50 main battle tanks. However, it is not clear who bought Cheetah 1 from OIP Land Systems. OIP Land Systems CEO Freddie Versluis told UK newspaper The Guardian that 49 tanks had been sold to another European government, which he could not name due to confidentiality. He also could not disclose the price. Versluys added that it could be up to six months before they are on the battlefield in Ukraine.

“Handelsblatt” reported that the tanks are now to be refitted at German sites of the Düsseldorf Rheinmetall Group for use in Ukraine. Eventually, about 30 of the 50 vehicles could be delivered.

08:10 – Russia shoots down two drones near Moscow

Two drones were shot down near Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It was a “terrorist attempt” by the “Kiev regime” that was thwarted.

According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyan, one of the UAVs was destroyed south of the capital near Domodedovo, one of Russia’s largest international airports. The other drone was shot down west of Moscow near the Minsk highway.

11:30 pm – Zelenskyj condemns Russian attack on rescue workers

After a double rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of targeting rescue workers. “It is the terrorists’ conscious decision to cause as much pain and damage as possible,” Zelensky said in his evening video message on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. According to local authorities, two Iskandar missiles hit the city center 40 minutes apart on Monday evening.

The second impact reportedly occurred when Ukraine first responders had already begun rescue operations. Among the victims were security and rescue workers who rushed to help after the first attack. According to the president, a total of nine people were killed and 82 injured – up from seven deaths previously.

10:26 pm – Ukrainian shelling on Donetsk city kills three

The Russian-appointed mayor of Donetsk, Alexei Kulemchin, has blamed Ukraine for the bombing of the city of Donetsk. Three people were killed, Kulemchin writes in a social media post. 10 people including a boy born in 2012 were injured. Also, many buildings including bus stand, hospital, shop and some residential buildings were damaged in many districts.

“Kick-Off” is WELT’s daily news podcast. The most important topic and dates of the day analyzed by WELT editors. Subscribe to the podcast Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or directly RSS-Feed.