A deadly fire broke out on a floating crane at a ship repair facility along Russia’s Volga River on Tuesday, killing one person.

The incident occurred at the Borskaya Ship Repair Company, also known as the Bor Repair and Operation Base, located in the city of Bor in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Authorities said the floating crane was undergoing routine repair work when fuel spilled from the vessel and caught fire. Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the burning fuel covered an area of about 100 square metres.

Firefighters applied large quantities of foam to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to another nearby floating crane. In total, 15 units of equipment and 48 emergency responders were deployed at the scene.

Russian media later reported that one person was killed in the incident. Officials have not disclosed further details about the victim or the extent of damage to the crane.

Witnesses cited by local media said they heard a loud bang or explosion shortly before the fire broke out.

In Nizhny Novgorod, a very expensive Russian ship specialized in repairing other Russian ships will no longer be repairing anything anymore, on grounds of having just exploded and burned down. pic.twitter.com/vh0edGVpt3

— Daractenus (@Daractenus) December 23, 2025

Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising over the Volga River, with the smoke column visible from several districts of the city, including the Meshchersky area. Residents also reported a strong smell of burning.

The Volga Transport Prosecutor’s Office said the fire started during routine operations at the yard and confirmed that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident and whether fire safety regulations were properly observed.

Although speculation online suggested the possibility of sabotage or a Ukrainian drone attack, no evidence has supported such claims.

Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, and the city of Bor is located roughly 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, making a drone strike unlikely.

🔥В Нижнем Новгороде после взрывов загорелся корабль «Борской судоремонтной компании».#NizhnyNovgorod #BreakingNews #RussiaNews #ShipFire pic.twitter.com/rPuRSw95Pb

— vesti.az (@vesti__az) December 23, 2025

Ukrainian forces have previously targeted the region only in connection with high-value infrastructure, including a refinery operated by Russian oil major Lukoil.

The Borskaya Ship Repair Company is a private enterprise specialising in the repair, modernisation and technical maintenance of river fleet vessels. It operates as a regional repair division of Volgaflot, a company involved in river-sea freight operations.

Volgaflot is subject to European Union sanctions due to its role in transporting Russian oil and oil products. The company is owned by Russian billionaire Vladimir Lisin, who is sanctioned by Ukraine, Canada and Australia.

Authorities said inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire are ongoing.

References: caliber, tvpworld