In the wake of the massive explosion that rocked Sergiyev Posad in Moscow Oblast, Russia on August 9, a journalist’s investigation has cast doubt on official claims and narratives surrounding the incident.
Contrary to assertions by propagandists and Kremlin representatives, the explosion did not occur within a building rented by the pyrotechnics company Piro-Ross, as stated by Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov.
Journalist’s Probe Questions Official Sergiyev Posad Explosion
Krutov took to Twitter on August 11 to present his findings, which were based on a thorough analysis of satellite images obtained from the company Planet.
The images, captured on August 10, revealed that the building reportedly rented by Piro-Ross remained undamaged, with the massive crater generated by the explosion situated beside a different structure.
This adjacent building’s purpose remains unknown, leaving open the possibility that it could also have affiliations with Piro-Ross.
Furthermore, OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) analyst D. mojavensis echoed these findings on Twitter, asserting that a video of the explosion contradicts the notion that it transpired within the building designated on Google Maps as owned by Piro-Ross.
The initial claims made by Piro-Ross CEO Sergei Chankaev immediately after the explosion conflicted with each other.
Initially, Chankaev asserted that the explosion did not originate within the pyrotechnics warehouse but rather in a neighboring room housing “metal pipes.”
However, after police questioning, he professed ignorance regarding the cause, despite previously attributing the sounds heard by his employees to a potential drone strike.
Russian authorities reported one fatality, approximately 80 injuries, and eight individuals missing in the aftermath of the explosion.
Official sources asserted that the blast transpired within a “pyrotechnic products” warehouse and was the result of “human factors,” rather than a drone attack as initially suggested.
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Unraveling the Aftermath Explosion
Emerging video evidence showcasing shells near the explosion site has spurred speculation that the “pyrotechnics warehouse” might have actually been an ammunition storage facility.
These contradictory narratives have raised concerns and skepticism regarding the true nature of the incident.
Intriguingly, the Russian Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant’s involvement in the development of a new generation of Russian strategic bombers, known as the Poslannik, adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.
Citing the Russian government procurement website, the Russian outlet Agentstvo highlighted the plant’s role in this strategic project, further clouding the context surrounding the explosion.
As investigations continue, the conflicting accounts and mounting evidence underscore the need for an unbiased and thorough examination of the incident to establish an accurate understanding of the events that transpired in Sergiyev Posad.
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