Explosions and fire hit rubber plant in Russia’s Tula region photo / video

A fire reportedly broke out at the Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant in Russia’s Tula region following a nighttime attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to ASTRA, residents of the city of Efremov reported explosions and a fire at the JSC Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant during the night of December 24. Witnesses said the incident occurred amid the overnight drone attack.

The regional governor later confirmed that a fire had broken out at one of the industrial facilities in the Tula region as a result of the attack. He said the blaze had been fully extinguished and that no injuries were reported.

ASTRA analysed and geolocated available footage from the scene, confirming that the glow from the fire was visible in the area of the plant. Based on this analysis, the fire appears to have occurred near the local synthetic rubber factory, although the exact point of impact cannot be determined from the footage.

The JSC Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant was founded in 1933 and was among the first enterprises in the Soviet Union to produce synthetic butadiene rubber. 

According to information published on the Zavody RF website, the plant is currently the country’s only producer of both high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight polyisobutylene, a material with unique properties that is used across a wide range of industrial sectors.

Synthetic rubber and polyisobutylene are materials that are included in the composition of many defence-related products.

By Tamilla Hasanova