Russia building new explosives plant, Reuters reports

The agency notes that boosting the supply of explosives for munitions is critical to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. An analysis of documents and satellite images by Reuters suggests the new production line could significantly enhance Russia’s firepower.

According to Reuters, the facility in Siberia is undergoing major expansion to increase the output of powerful explosives used in artillery shells and other ammunition in the war in Ukraine. Currently, Moscow is forced to import large quantities of shells from North Korea as its domestic stockpiles are dwindling.

The new production line is being built at a plant owned by the state defense company Sverdlov Plant, a major manufacturer of explosives.

Reuters says Russian plans can be traced through dozens of documents posted by the Main Directorate for Special Construction on the government procurement website between February 2023 and September 2024.

Details are also found in procurement tenders inviting bids for the creation of necessary infrastructure.

The agency notes that the facility’s projected capacity would be sufficient to produce enough explosives to supply around 1.28 million 152mm artillery shells.

Ukraine's strikes on Russian plants

On April 5, drones of the Security Service of Ukraine attacked the Russian plant Promsintez. This is one of Russia's leading explosives production facilities.

Also, in the summer of 2023, an explosion occurred at the Promsintez plant in Russia's Chapayevsk, Samara region. This incident killed six people and injured two others at the explosives manufacturing facility.