Fire Breaks Out at Main Roscosmos Research Center Near Moscow

Aug. 5, 2026 Smoke and fire at TsNIIMash. Telegram A fire briefly broke out Wednesday at the leading research center for Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, triggering an evacuation of staff. Roscosmos said a fire alarm sounded around 1 p.m. local time after smoke was detected in the basement of a building at the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash) in the town of Korolyov, located outside of Moscow. Staff were evacuated as firefighters responded to put out the blaze. No injuries were reported, the space agency said. Russian media released videos showing dark smoke rising above the complex, which houses mission control for the Russian segment of the International Space Station. Roscosmos said there was no threat to workers or nearby residents, noting that ISS operations “remain fully under the control of specialists.” An internal commission will determine the cause of the fire once the site is fully cleared, the agency added. Anonymous sources told the state-run news agency TASS that a short circuit may have sparked the fire. Neither Roscosmos nor TASS specified the size of the fire or the extent of any damage. The United States sanctioned TsNIIMash after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine over its role in Russia’s defense industry. Read more about: Roscosmos , Accidents Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Huge Blaze Erupts at Manufacturing Facility in Russia’s Yekaterinburg Local media reported that the fire broke out at NPO Avtomatiki, a subsidiary of the Roscosmos space agency. 1 Min read Warehouse Fire Near Moscow Train Stations Leaves Several Dead At least five people were killed in a fire at a warehouse in central Moscow near three railway stations linking the Russian capital to major cities, according... 8 Die on Highest Volcano in Russia's Far East Four survivors are believed to be stranded in two groups at heights of 3,300 meters and 4,100 meters. Bus Crash Kills Five, Injures 21 South of Moscow Russia's Federal Road Traffic Inspection agency said the bus hit a pillar by a railroad bridge.