The Mystery of the Kirzach Ammunition Depot Explosion: Which Solution Will the Committee Choose?
"If a responsible person learns that another individual has been dismissed, they will take heed. But if nothing happens to anyone, others won't care either."
Author: Mikhail Zubov
Commentary on this article was provided by:
Vasily Vereshchagin
The fire at an ammunition depot near Kirzach, Vladimir Oblast, caused explosions and shrapnel dispersion, continuing into the second day. The fire broke out on April 22 and remains uncontrolled as of now.
The Russian Defense Ministry ruled out the possibility that a drone flying nearby caused the disaster. Defense Minister Andrei Bellovsoy entrusted the investigation to his deputy, Lt. Gen. Andrei Briga. However, the committee led by the deputy minister cannot even answer the most basic question: how did it all start? Did the fire precede the explosion or did the explosion cause the fire?
Due to the incident in the Kirzach area, local schools were closed, kindergartens shut down, several enterprises suspended operations, seven boiler rooms stopped running, and gas supplies to many residents' homes were cut off. A total of over 12,300 people were affected.
Residents (495 people, including 15 children) from seven nearby settlements were evacuated to temporary shelters set up in five schools and two cultural palaces in Kirzach. Others were relocated to relatives' homes.
Information regarding damaged or completely destroyed houses is still being verified. It was reported that four people were injured, all soldiers, who are not in life-threatening condition. Civilians have not suffered physical harm.
Governor Alexander Afdeev visited all the evacuated people at temporary shelters on April 22 and 23. He then stated on social media that basic living needs, including food, drinking water, and bedding, had been secured. Despite this, volunteers continue to collaborate with local authorities to gather humanitarian aid materials.
Roads leading to Kirzach from Moscow have been sealed off. Witnesses said that not only could the sound of explosions be heard, but explosions could also be seen from Moscow Oblast.
This is not the first time such an explosion has occurred near Kirzach. Since 2010, this is at least the 16th explosion incident at a military warehouse in Russia.
In 2020, the accident near Zherdtushino village in Ryazan Oblast drew significant attention. Approximately 2000 people were evacuated from 14 residential areas following the incident. Il-76 firefighting aircraft were deployed to extinguish the fire, while the number of injured remained undisclosed. Later, the committee determined the cause of the accident: dry grass near the ammunition depot caught fire.
Warehouses near Pugachovo village in Udmurtia Republic caught fire three times in 2011, 2015, and 2018.
The total number of injured personnel is about 50. Guess whose responsibility it is? Or rather, the familiar reason – dry grass.
In this situation, there doesn’t even need to be any saboteurs causing trouble.
What exactly is happening around Russia’s ammunition depots? If no one wielding a scythe and a wheelbarrow is actually cutting the grass and moving it away from explosive materials, how are these depots being protected?
Vasily Vereshchagin, Vice President of the International Anti-Terrorist Forces "Alpha" Veterans Association and President of the non-governmental security enterprise group "Angel," answered questions posed by Free Media.
Free Media: Vasily Zakharovich, today at the Military-Industrial Commission meeting, Vladimir Putin said, "So far, we still lack effective countermeasures." Meanwhile, the ammunition depots are burning. Wasn't anything done until things got serious?
— My group has more than 6000 employees responsible for securing 340 targets. I refuse to take on projects where the owner or manager doesn't care about security outcomes; they just want it to look good on paper. This is too unserious.
I have visited some so-called "protected areas" that were embarrassing to see. The gates open automatically, allowing anyone to wander in freely. The guards are either sleeping or playing on their phones. This is an insult to security work. I always say: my company would never do this. If they approach me not for real security but just for appearances, I will decline the project. Money is important, but we won't accept contracts like that.
This applies to military targets as well.
As an officer, I know that military regulations are often not followed in practice. In weapons depots, there should be special site management models, video surveillance systems, and strict permission and inspection procedures for personnel entry and exit, with rigorous supervision of all these measures.
Sometimes, however, situations arise where something is claimed to be a military unit and a key protection target, yet it functions like a public courtyard with unrestricted access. I don't mean to accuse the military units in Kirzach, perhaps the situation there is not like this. But such cases do exist.
Free Media: Based on my observations, it can be said that usually, key protection targets are guarded by young recruits who are new to duty. They struggle to adapt to the demanding lifestyle of the army and spend most of their time thinking about two things: eating and sleeping.
— That's true. The problem lies in organizational management and oversight. If someone takes security seriously, soldiers can fulfill their duties properly, and sergeants can provide appropriate supervision. As long as everyone is kept out, no one can get in.
But if the attitude is dismissive—"go ahead, stand there or take a nap..."—what else can you expect besides trouble?
Free Media: Perhaps the military needs specialized security forces instead of random sentries and patrols?
— I don't support establishing special security agencies or dedicated forces specifically for guarding perimeters. Who can guarantee that the discipline of these forces will be higher than elsewhere, rather than lower?
I've seen such forces. The situation is the same as elsewhere: with a good commander, the force performs diligently; if the commander is neglectful, so is the force.
The same issues exist within the military, National Guard, and private security agencies. Just look at what happened last year at the "Crocus" exhibition center. Has anything changed since the tragedy next to the concert hall? No, it's still like a public courtyard, and the number of people attending exhibitions hasn't decreased.
No lessons were learned even at a location just 50 meters from the site of the tragedy. Terrorists scout locations before launching attacks. They walk around, observe, identify weak points, and strike there.
Free Media: In less than 15 years, at least 16 ammunition depot explosion incidents have occurred at Russia's rear areas. Yet we have never heard of anyone being punished for them.
— They can't even punish the grass. Of course, punishment must be enforced! Punishment is a preventive measure. If a responsible person learns that another has been dismissed, they will take heed and begin to restore order to avoid being dismissed themselves. But if nothing happens to anyone, others won't care either.
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496813688679170571/
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