On the night of April 22-23, 2025, in the Kirzhach district of the Vladimir region, explosions and a fire continued on the territory of military unit No. 11785, known as the 51st arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, located near the village of Barsovo. The incident, which began in the afternoon of April 22, caused large-scale destruction, the evacuation of residents of seven settlements and the introduction of a state of emergency (ES). According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the cause of the emergency was a violation of safety requirements when working with explosives, which led to a fire and subsequent detonation of ammunition in the warehouse.

According to local residents and Telegram channels, the explosions continued throughout the night, accompanied by secondary detonations, and a thick column of smoke rose above the arsenal, visible even from a distance of several dozen kilometers. Eyewitnesses spoke of broken windows, shaking houses and a strong smell of burning in the lowlands. Videos published on social networks captured bright flashes and sounds reminiscent of artillery shelling.

According to the Defense Ministry, there are no casualties among the military personnel on the territory of the unit, but Vladimir Region Governor Alexander Avdeyev reported four civilian casualties. Two were hospitalized in Kirzhach Hospital in satisfactory condition, one in Alexandrov in moderate condition, and the fourth is being treated as an outpatient. Telegram channel "112" mentioned a mine-explosive injury in a man, and "Baza" confirmed at least one casualty.

Due to the threat of new explosions and the spread of fire, authorities evacuated about 2000 people from seven settlements: Barsovo, Mirny, Gribanovo, Khrapki, Pershino, the village and settlement of Dubki, as well as 12 summer cottage settlements. Residents were placed in temporary accommodation centers (TACs) in schools No. 6 and No. 7 in the settlement of Krasny Oktyabr, as well as in five schools and two community centers in Kirzhach. Buses provided by the district administration were used for the evacuation. Hot meals, medical and psychological assistance were provided in the TACs. Some of the evacuees were taken in by relatives.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry has strengthened its firefighting and rescue team, using regular military units, fire trains and drones to identify fire sources.