Russian research centre inferno kills eight people
At least eight people have died in a fire in an office building near Moscow, including two who jumped from the building to escape the flames, authorities say.
State news agency TASS said the fire in Fryazino, about 25km northeast of the Russian capital, was caused by a malfunctioning electrical system. Videos shared on social media show thick plumes of smoke rising from windows throughout the multi-storey office building.
Regional governor Andrei Vorobyev said in a post on Telegram that oxygen tanks stored in the building exploded, causing some ceilings to collapse.
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The Platan Research Institute is among several Russian companies sanctioned by the US Treasury for meddling in foreign elections, carrying out malicious cyber operations and undermining security abroad.
The Treasury listing said the Platan Research Institute is based at the same address as the building that caught fire.
The website for the town of Fryazino said the Platan Research Institute is the “leader, sole developer and manufacturer,” in Russia of a number of “unique devices,” including lasers, flat liquid crystal screens, video modules and white-emitting LED lighting.
Russian newspaper Kommersant was more descriptive, saying the Institute develops equipment used by Russia’s military, including in fighter jets, bombers and helicopters, as well as in missiles, “all types of nuclear submarine missile carriers,” long-range radar and anti-aircraft missile systems.
Ruselectronics, the Platan Research Institute’s parent company, denied the company was affected by Monday’s blaze.
In a statement published by TASS, state-owned Ruselectronics insisted the building had passed to private ownership in the 1990s and that the Institute was no longer a tenant.
Independent Russian media suggested the company had recently moved to a neighbouring building.
