Explosion at Russian weapons plant kills five ahead of Trump-Putin summit

A major explosion struck a Russian weapons and ammunition plant - killing and injuring dozens of workers - ahead of a crucial summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Dramatic images caught the moment a huge explosion went off in the gunpowder workshop at the Elastik plant in Ryazan. Initial reports said five people were killed, 20 injured and more than 100 people were evacuated from the burning plant. Local Russian news outlets reported the whole warehouse was completely destroyed after the huge explosion. It is unclear whether the plant was hit in a deliberate attack, a Ukrainian drone strike or an accident at the site.

A witness at the location, in the western Russian city, said: "The warehouse exploded and the missiles flew all around." The Ryazan Incidents Telegram channel said: "Victims were sent to the district hospital. All emergency services are working at the scene."

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Local Governor Pavel Malkov rushed to the scene of the incident. The explosion came just hours before Putin and Trump are set to meet for crucial talks in Alaska.

The world leaders could make history as they discuss the Russian dictators illegal invasion of Ukraine, without Volodymyr Zelensky with them. Although Trump spoke to European leaders on the phone ahead of the summit, fears have circled about the President's approach to leave Ukraine out of the talks and meet a dictator who has been iced out of the international community.

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