Camilla Jessen
A massive fire engulfed a key Russian defense institute in Moscow, spreading rapidly and raising fears of an explosion.
A massive fire erupted at the Lebedev Institute of Computing Technology in Moscow on February 19, rapidly spreading across 1,500 square meters. This was reported by the news outlet 24TV.
The institute is a key player in Russia’s defense sector, and the fire has raised serious concerns about potential explosions.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the incident but did not directly identify the institute, referring only to a “major fire in an administrative building” on Varshavskoye Highway. Due to the scale of the blaze, emergency crews deployed a Ka-32 helicopter, and officials assigned the fire an increased difficulty level.
This fire comes just hours after a series of explosive drone strikes hit the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region, sparking another massive blaze. In recent months, key Russian military and industrial sites have suffered mysterious fires and explosions, though the Kremlin has not officially linked them to sabotage or external attacks.
Authorities have yet to disclose whether the Lebedev Institute fire was accidental or part of a larger pattern of escalating incidents targeting Russia’s strategic infrastructure.