New explosion reported in occupied Luhansk

13 May, 2023 Fire after an explosion in the suburbs of occupied Luhansk, May 13, 2023. An explosion was heard Saturday, May 13, in the city of Luhansk, occupied by Russian forces. Propaganda media has reported about the incident on social networks.

This is the second time in two days that the Russian-occupied city has heard the explosions. A day earlier in Luhansk, one of the factories caught fire after the explosion. The Russian invaders have traditionally accused Ukraine of this attack.

The published photos and videos show a tall plume of smoke rising over the city. Propagandists claim it was a rocket attack on the village of Yuvileine in the suburbs of occupied Luhansk.

The building of the former University of Internal Affairs was reportedly damaged. According to some Russian media, military personnel of the Russian invasion forces could be inside. As a result of the explosion, the windows were broken by shards in many nearby houses.

Some Russian propaganda bloggers, without providing evidence, assumed Ukraine had used Storm Shadow cruise missiles recently provided by the UK. As previously reported, on Friday an explosion took place in the center of occupied Luhansk.

A fire was reported on the territory of the former Machine Building Plant 100 - Polypak enterprise. The type of missiles used to strike is unknown, but later the Russians made a statement that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could use Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Debris of an ADM-160B MALD decoy missile near the site of the explosion, Luhansk, May 12, 2023.

Local residents found the wreckage of an ADM-160B MALD designed to distract enemy air defense systems near the site of the explosion.

The transfer of these missiles to Ukraine's service has not previously been reported.