Explosion At Major Russian Gunpowder Plant Kills Four

An explosion hit a major gunpowder plant in Russia's southwestern region of Tambov on June 20, killing four people. Emergency services said at least 12 other people were injured. The region's governor, Maksim Yegorov, said the explosion was caused by a "human factor," excluding an attack or sabotage. The Tambov gunpowder plant in the town of Kotovsk near the regional capital, Tambov, is one of Russia's largest industrial facilities, producing ammunition and special chemical outputs. It produces pyroxylin gunpowder for weapons and artillery of all types used by Russian armed forces. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.