Russian defence ministry says no casualties in fire at military unit, RIA reports

The Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday that a fire at a military unit in the Vladimir region was caused by a breach in safety requirements and that preliminary information showed there were no casualties, the RIA state news agency reported.

The fire had resulted in ammunition detonating, RIA cited the ministry as saying.

A powerful explosion ripped through a town in the Vladimir region where a weapons arsenal is located, local media and Telegram channels close to Russia's security services said, prompting the evacuation of several villages.