Russia has woken up to a powerful explosion in the outskirts of Moscow, in which at least 45 people have been injured.

Footage shared online shows the aftermath of the blast at a mechanical plant in the city of Sergiev Posad.

Thick plumes of black smoke can be seen billowing into the sky from miles away.

The incident happened in Zagorsk Optical and Mechanical Plant, which reportedly produces equipment for the military.

Preliminary information from emergency services suggests that at least 25 people were wounded, but the number is expected to rise.

There are fears workers at the plant remain trapped under the piles of rubble.

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Windows were shattered and frames blown out in neighboring apartment blocks and houses, but the cause of the blast is yet unclear.

Governor of the Moscow region Andrey Vorobyov said he is currently travelling to the scene.

‘According to the incident in Sergiev Posad, I will be there soon,’ he wrote on his Telegram channel.

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‘At the moment, there is no information about casualties at the crash site of the wreckage.’

Such attacks, which the Kremlin continues to blame on Russia, are becoming more frequent in Moscow and leading to concern from residents.

Russia’s defence ministry admitted the two incursions 16 minutes apart, saying ta ‘terrorist attack’ had been ‘thwarted’.

‘An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles was prevented over the territory of the Moscow region,’ said the ministry.

‘Two UAVs were destroyed by air defences.’

This comes after a drone strike damaged two floors of a Moscow high-rise where some Russian ministries were located on July 30.

After the attack Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that ‘war’ was coming to Russia, with the country’s ‘symbolic centres and military bases’ now becoming targets.

Another drone on August 1 struck the 21st floor of the same building, known as the ‘Moscow City’.

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