Footage circulating online showing mysterious green flashes and explosions around Moscow and other regions have fueled speculation as the country suffers from a spike in industrial fires.
In recent days, Russian social networks have published photographs showing flashes of light, attributed to spaces around power substations in various regions of Russia and territories annexed through Moscow.
On Tuesday, citizens of the market city of Podolsk, south of Moscow, reported an “acid green flash” in the early hours of the morning, according to the Russian channel Telegram Shot, known for posting separatist or exclusive images. “An unusual phenomenon in the sky,” the channel reported, adding that the cause is “a mystery. “
Also on Tuesday, independent Russian media outlet Astra reported an explosion at an electrical substation in Moscow’s Shcherbinka district, north of Podolsk. The cause is unknown, the station reported, broadcasting a short video in which two flashes of light appear coming from an installation in the middle. of an urbanized area.
On Monday, Ukrainian military blogger Igor Sushko shared footage purportedly showing an explosion at an electrical substation in the city of Chelyabinsk in west-central Russia. “Residents have lost power,” he added.
A report via 74. RU, a local media outlet, said that the series of flashes caused a blackout in and around Chelyabinsk communities, the problem would have been resolved in a matter of hours.
On Jan. 23, news company Astra and Ukrainian media reported “simultaneous explosions and fires at two electrical substations” in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. The cause of the fires is unknown, the outlet added, publishing photographs of several bright flares coming from two locations.
Earlier this month, independent Russian media outlet Meduza reported on a “second turn of fate on heat networks in a week” in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, with more than 161 apartment buildings affected.
Reports last week also suggested that parts of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, lost power after Kyiv’s drones struck power substations.
The wave of explosions and fires reported around electrical installations comes amid a record number of fires at commercial sites and power plants across Russia. There were 939 such fires in Russia in 2023, adding five in Moscow, to 416 in 2022, a buildup of more than 125%, according to open source intelligence firm Molfar.
It is not clear what is behind these explosions, nor whether any of the incidents are related. Online speculation has suggested partisan groups siding with Ukraine against Russia may be partly responsible. A Telegram channel linked to a Russian partisan group hinted at sabotage in Moscow’s Shcherbinka district on Tuesday.
Newsweek has reached out to Russian officials for comment via email.
Russia has attempted to attack Ukraine’s force infrastructure, adding its strength and thermal networks, the two grueling winters of an all-out war. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s national force network operator Ukrenergo said an overnight wave of Shahed drones is moving broken apparatus at one of the company’s electrical substations in central Ukraine.
Ukraine has retaliated against such attacks, including targeting Russia’s oil hubs and transport infrastructure.
Although kyiv rarely admits responsibility for attacks on Russian territory identified around the world, an unnamed Ukrainian security source told The Washington Post last September that Kiev carried out a “successful attack” against a Russian military substation near the border. with Ukraine with a drone.
Ellie Cook is a security and defence reporter for Newsweek in London, UK. Much of his work focuses on the Russia-Ukraine war, the U. S. military, weapons systems, and emerging technologies. She joined Newsweek in January 2023, having worked as a journalist at the Daily Express and holds a BA in International Journalism from the City, University of London.
Languages: English, Spanish.
You can reach Ellie via email at e. cook@newsweek. com.