A massive explosion was recorded at an oil depot in Vyborg, Leningrad Oblast, more than 1,000 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

Russian media reported on this.

The explosion occurred on May 19, 2024, at 2:50 a.m. on the territory of the old port oil depot in Vyborg.

According to official information, a so-called ‘pyrotechnic explosion’ took place on the territory of the oil depot, causing a fire.

“There was an explosion in the building of the old oil depot in Vyborg due to the use of pyrotechnics. There are no casualties, no threat of fire or explosion,” Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said.

Drozdenko did not specify which pyrotechnic devices caused the explosion and the fire.

He also added that the information about the drone strike on the oil depot is not true.

Emergency services are currently extinguishing the fire, which has started to spread across the port.

According to official information from the emergency services, there were no casualties, and extinguishing operations are ongoing.

As previously reported, on the night of May 18-19, six drones hit an oil refinery in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

According to Russian media, the downed drone caused the explosion at the oil refinery.

Local residents share that several explosions were heard, but no major fire broke out after the explosions. In turn, Russian media reported that the plant suspended its operations after the drone attack.