Russia: At Least 20 Dead in Ammunition Factory Explosion

At least 20 people have been killed and 134 injured in an explosion at an ammunition factory in the Ryazan region of Russia on Friday.

Local emergency services announced that an investigation has been launched into non-compliance with safety regulations.

The Elastik factory, located 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow, produces explosives and ammunition. The Russian channel 112 on Telegram reported that the explosion was caused by accidental detonation of a shell.

Authorities in the Ryazan region had warned about poor adherence to safety regulations. An investigation is underway into violations of industrial safety rules.

In 2021, an explosion at the same factory killed 17 people.