Evacuation Ordered After Drone Strike Near Military Arsenal in Russia’s Kostroma Region

Authorities ordered an evacuation in the city of Neya, Kostroma region, following a drone attack on the morning of Wednesday, May 7, regional governor Sergei Sitnikov announced.

Public sources indicate that the 100th Arsenal of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, also known as military unit 55486, is located near the city.

The evacuation is being carried out in the southern part of Neya, where the arsenal is situated, according to local officials.

Earlier in the day, Sitnikov claimed that Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over the Neya district. Residents reported seeing at least three drones in the sky, followed by explosions, some of which were captured by surveillance cameras.

The regional operational headquarters later ordered the evacuation of southern Neya “to ensure security,” without specifying the cause. However, the proximity of the arsenal suggests that fears of further explosions may have prompted the decision.

No official images or videos from the site have been made public. Authorities have not confirmed whether the arsenal was directly hit. There are no other known industrial or strategic sites in the southern area of the city that would warrant such a precaution.

Evacuated residents are being relocated to a temporary accommodation center. Those with access to transportation were advised to leave independently. Local authorities also suggested residents could stay with relatives or friends in the northern part of Neya.

“It is possible to move to friends and relatives in the northern part of the city,” the regional authorities recommend.
Public transport has been arranged for those unable to evacuate on their own. Officials urged residents to remain calm, although some reported disruptions in mobile communications.

The incident comes weeks after an explosion at another Russian military facility. On April 22, the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate detonated near the village of Barsovo in the Vladimir region.