Shock moment massive mystery explosion rocks Russian missile site as Putin cronies desperately try to cover up blast

AN ENORMOUS explosion rocked one of Putin's key weapons factories last night - as dramatic footage captured the huge inferno.

The Russian plant produces key ballistic missiles used by Vlad's armies in their invasion of Ukraine and even components for nuclear weapons.

Clips shared online show an incredible blaze erupt on the horizon near the western city of Izhevsk.

It is not clear yet whether the blaze was caused by Kyiv's forces - but Russia scrambled to insist that it was the result of a technical failing.

At first Putin's cronies inside the Emergencies Ministry even tried to claim it hadn't happened - despite the glaring footage circulating online.

They even posted a bizarre notice which read: “The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia does not confirm a powerful explosion on the territory of the Votkinsk plant.”

But later officials were forced to admit the incident - and suggested it was caused by "a scheduled test of rocket engines".

It is believed locals were not warned of the "planned" explosion.

One Telegram channel suggested it likely wasn't the result of a normal rocket test because of the enormous blaze.

The Votkinsk plant produces oil, gas, machinery and other military equipment as well as key weapons.

Major Russian missiles - including strategic rockets such as the Topol-M and intercontinental ballistic missiles are churned out there.

The mad despot has visited the plant before - and one of his top cronies Igor Komarov was there just days ago.

The plant is nestled in a village seven miles from a town known as one of Russia's key gun-making empires.

While Ukraine has yet to claim responsibility for the blaze, its intelligence services have targeted Russian missile plants in the past.

In January Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck a key Russian missile factory and gas plant.

Two huge explosions erupted at the Novatek plant - near St Petersburg.

The weapons hub produced Pantsir-S and Pantsir-S1 air defence missile systems used to defend key sites including Vladimir Putin’s palaces.