The fire was first reported by the Facebook page Dianie v Snine. City authorities soon urged residents not to approach the scene and to limit time outdoors while the fire was being extinguished.
CSG holding spokesperson Андрей Чиртек told Novinky that the fire started on the roof of the building during repair work carried out by an outside contractor. According to him, the fire was brought under control in about two hours.
Чиртек also said that the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire will still be assessed and determined. Until the investigation is concluded, the company will not comment further on the circumstances of the incident.
ZVS Holding is part of MSM Group, which in turn is part of the Czech industrial holding Czechoslovak Group (CSG) owned by billionaire Michal Strnad. The company produces large- and medium-caliber ammunition for tanks, artillery, and rocket systems, as well as mortar shells and ammunition components.
The plant in Snina in eastern Slovakia specializes in shell casings, including for 155 mm artillery ammunition. ZVS Holding’s products are supplied, among others, for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The fire in Snina occurred several days after a similar incident in Bulgaria: late on the evening of September 11, a fire broke out at the ammunition warehouse of the private defense company EMCO, whose products are also supplied to Ukraine. Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev then noted the similarity of this case to a fire at another EMCO warehouse in August, and the prosecutor’s office is considering all possible versions, including deliberate arson.
Another fire at a military facility occurred on August 9 in the Malacky area in western Slovakia. At that time, due to a fire at the Zagorje military training ground, the authorities declared a state of emergency.
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