Explosion Destroys Production Building at Gunpowder Plant in Kazan

An explosion at the Kazan State Gunpowder Plant on April 14 destroyed one of the facility’s production buildings.

The Telegram channel Supernova+ published satellite images of the site.

One person died at the facility, and two others were injured.

According to available information, the explosion occurred between 18:00 and 19:00. Local authorities described it as “man-made in nature,” and no air alert was declared in the region. The explosion was previously linked to a failure of the pressure relief system.

The Kazan Gunpowder Plant is a key enterprise in Russia’s defense industry. It produces gunpowder and propellant charges for a wide range of weapons, including small arms, aviation, naval, artillery and armored systems, as well as close combat systems.

In particular, the plant produces gunpowder for small arms calibers 5.45–14.5 mm, ammunition for artillery systems of 23-30 mm caliber, and charges for rocket motors used in RPG-26, RPG-27 and RPG-29 grenade launchers.

In addition, the plant produces nitrocellulose, nitro enamels, varnishes, and other pyrotechnic products.