Russian air defence missile explodes near military plant in Leningrad region PHOTO/VIDEO

A Russian air defence missile is believed to have exploded approximately one kilometre from a military-industrial facility in the Leningrad region, an open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis by ASTRA said.

The incident reportedly took place during the night of March 23, when regional authorities said that 11 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been intercepted over the Leningrad Region, with no casualties recorded. Surveillance footage captured a powerful explosion in the city of Gatchina.

An OSINT analyst from ASTRA reviewed the footage and concluded that the blast was likely caused by a Russian air defence missile. According to the analysis, the detonation occurred in a residential area near School No. 12.

Approximately one kilometre from the site of the explosion lies the defence enterprise VISKOM, formally known as the Joint-Stock Company “Special Design and Technological Bureau ‘VISKOM'".

The facility is a closed defence enterprise that historically originated from the structures of the Gatchina-based Avangard plant. It specialises in the development and production of close-combat systems and explosive devices, as well as the creation of specialised equipment for law enforcement and security agencies.

VISKOM is included in the official register of organisations within Russia’s defence-industrial complex, underscoring its role in supporting the country’s military and security infrastructure.

By Vafa Guliyeva