Explosion at Petersburg military academy injures seven soldiers
In the building of the Budyonny Military Communications Academy in Petersburg, there was an explosion. Emergency services arrived at the scene. At least seven people were injured.
The emergency services received information about the disturbing incident at the academy from witnesses. They alerted the police about the "loud explosion."
Fire trucks, ambulances, and police quickly arrived at the scene.
Information about a drone attack on the academy building immediately appeared on Telegram channels. St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov quickly refuted these reports.
"This incident is not of a terrorist nature. The military authorities are handling it," he informed.
A shell from World War II
Soon, an official statement was issued by the Leningrad Military District press service. "On 17 May 2024, around 5:00 PM Greenwich Time, there was an explosion in the utility area of the Budyonny Military Communications Academy. While cleaning one of the basement rooms, an explosion occurred while loading rubbish into a container. As a result of the explosion, seven soldiers were injured. All the injured were transported to a medical facility of the Russian Ministry of Defence where they are receiving necessary medical care," the statement said.
What exploded in the rubbish container? According to TASS and Ria Novosti agencies, citing the authorities of the Leningrad Military District, it was a "76-millimetre artillery shell" from World War II.
