Large fire at an engine manufacturing plant for the intercontinental ballistic missile Topol-M, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, broke out in Russia, with hundreds of workers being laid off.

The fire is the latest in a series of “mysterious” unprovoked fires that have struck basic Russian infrastructure. It started from the management department of the Yaroslavl Motor Vehicle Plant – also known as Avtodizel – 274 kilometers north-east of Moscow.

About 218 members of staff were evacuated as flames licked up the building sending thick black smoke into the sky. At least seven people had to be extricated.

It is noted that the plant produces engines for the Topol-M nuclear missile system and other various equipment used by the Russian armed forces, including Ural trucks. ​​​​​​​In particular, the factory in Yaroslavl is one of the largest Russian enterprises, and it produces multi-purpose diesel engines, clutches, gearboxes and spare parts.

The extent of the damage – and whether it will cause any problems in supplying Putin’s forces in his war against Ukraine – is not clear.

The Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a series of sabotage of Russian infrastructure in recent months by its supporters, often at strategically important facilities. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Kirill Budanov, told Forbes last month that many of the unusual explosions and fires in Russia “they are not random”.

He admitted that Kiev is behind some of the sabotage attacks. “It clearly does not happen by accident…. I would put it this way: money works wonders” he stated mockingly.

According to the latest estimates in Russia that they have erupted without explanation up to 100 fires from March 22, 2022.

The Russian intercontinental ballistic missile RT-2PM2, better known as Topol-M, entered the Russian arsenal in 1997. It has a 3-stage solid propellant rocket motor and has a range of 11,000 km. It has a speed of Mach 22 and carries an 800 kt nuclear warhead.