28.2 C
Accra
Friday, March 14, 2025
WorldFire engulfs a Russian defense facility as Putin meets "yards away."

Date:

Fire engulfs a Russian defense facility as Putin meets “yards away.”

As Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko had private meetings yesterday, a fire burned beside the Kremlin.

Emergency personnel flocked to a fire at a Moscow defense ministry building at 19 Znamenka Street while the two leaders spoke.

Spectacular film displays smoke rising into the sky and flowing from windows.

The source of the fire is yet unknown, however approximately 50 people were evacuated.

Major fire breaks out at Russian defence ministry in Moscow
Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky (Picture: social media/ East2west News)

The fire took place at a building known as Apraksin House, which has housed the administrative services of the Russian Ministry of Defence since 1987.

It is close to the headquarters of the defence ministry and situated just several hundreds yards from the Kremlin. 

In a statement, Russia’s defence ministry said: ‘Around 19:30 (16:30 GMT), in one of the administrative buildings of the defence ministry in Moscow, duty workers detected smoke on the premises.

‘The fire department and ministry of emergency situations came to the scene.’

Major fire breaks out at Russian defence ministry in Moscow
Emergency services at the scene last night (Picture: social media/ East2west News)

Some reports said the section of the building on fire was a department of military property dealing with facilities across the country. 

No injuries were reported.

As firefighters battle to extinguish the flames, Putin was believed to be holding talks with Lukashenko – an ally in his war with Ukraine – in the Kremlin. 

Unexplained fires in Russia have been reported at factories, barracks and even a former Ikea store in recent months.

Ukrainian intelligence chief, Major-General Kyrylo Budanov told Forbes last month that the country was seeing many unusual explosions and fires.

‘Much of this is no accident,’ he said, admitting that Ukraine was paying Russian saboteurs. 

‘Something is constantly on fire [in Russia]. 

‘Signalling equipment on railways, it lights up several times a day, on various highways constantly for two to three hours, sometimes for five to six hours, traffic gets suspended.’

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Over 1,000 Northern School of Business SHS students affected after windstorm attack

A fierce windstorm on Wednesday night has affected over...

3 Ghanaians to be deported from US in March, April – Ablakwa

Three Ghanaians in the United States are set to...

100 deportation cases involving Ghanaians either under appeal or dismissed – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that...

Over 17,000 MoMo businesses collapsed due to E-levy – MoMo Agents Association

General Secretary of the Mobile Money Agents Association of...

50 Ghanaians set to be deported from US mid-2025 – Foreign Minister

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that...

150 Ghanaians in US detention centres awaiting deportation – Ablakwa

Update from Washington Mission indicates that there are currently...

Passport application fees reduced from GHS500 to GHS350 – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced a...

Related stories