Deadly explosion rocks Russian military site near St Petersburg | Russia-Ukraine war News
Explosion at Military Police Facility Near St. Petersburg Leaves Three Dead
An explosion at a military police facility in Sertolovo, just north of St. Petersburg, has resulted in the collapse of several floors of the building, leading to at least three fatalities and multiple injuries.
St. Petersburg’s 78 News channel reported, citing an unnamed source, that the incident occurred on Tuesday. Local news outlet 47 News corroborated the death toll, reporting three fatalities as confirmed by emergency services. Unverified images circulated by various media outlets depict significant damage, with the upper two floors of the building believed to have caved in, leaving debris scattered around the site.
Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko indicated that the cause of the explosion and subsequent collapse is currently under investigation. He stated that soldiers and security personnel have been deployed to assist in clearing the rubble and searching for potential survivors.
Concerns have emerged regarding the stability of the remaining structure, with reports suggesting additional collapses might occur. The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated an inquiry into a potential fire safety violation related to the incident.
The committee confirmed the preliminary findings indicating casualties and emphasized the need for further examination of the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The explosion took place amid renewed talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at addressing ongoing territorial disputes and security guarantees. Expectations for progress in the discussions are low, as both sides remain steadfast in their respective positions.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, there has been an uptick in sabotage incidents targeting military facilities and civilian infrastructure. While gas leaks have commonly caused explosions in Soviet-era buildings like the one that collapsed, no official cause has yet been determined in this instance.
