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Putin Has a Problem: Russian Air Defense Research Building Goes up In Flames

S-300 Russia Ukraine
Russian Su-35 fighters. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Six people were declared dead on Thursday after a fire broke out at the Russian Aerospace Defense Research Institute building in Tver. Local officials said that the institute, which is responsible for the development of Russian air defense systems, can be seen in video footage engulfed in black smoke.

TASS reported that at least 30 people were injured. 

The fire forced employees to jump out of the windows of the six-story building. 

What Caused the Fire?

According to the TASS state-run news agency, the fire is believed to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring.

The fire is believed to have begun on the second floor and destroyed 1,000 square meters of the building.

The second floor of the building was lined with wooden floors and plastic panels, creating a poisonous smoke that blocked people from evacuating.

A spokesperson from the ambulance service said that “some of the victims inhaled smoke” and others had bruises and other injuries after leaping from the windows. 

The Research Institute reportedly helped develop the Iskander anti-aircraft systems currently being used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

While it is not unheard of for buildings to be affected by unexpected and accidental fires in Russia, the nature of the work performed at the building raises questions about whether local officials are telling the truth about the origins of the fire. Russian buildings often catch fire as a result of aging infrastructure and a lack of enforcement of safety legislation in many residential and commercial buildings. 

When the Moskva sank on April 14, Russia initially blamed the damage on an accidental fire causing a munitions explosion. Ukraine, however, took credit for the sinking, explaining how its military struck the flagship with two Neptune missiles

There is no evidence available to Western media outlets or intelligence officials so far to suggest that the fire at the Aerospace Defense Research Institute building was started on purpose, it’s hard to truly know what’s happening in Russia. 

Rescue operations were still underway as of Thursday night and an investigation is taking place.

Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.

Written By

Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive's Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.

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