Fire temporarily shuts part of Slovak ammunition plant amid plans to triple capacity

On 16 September, a fire broke out on the roof of a production building at ZVS Holding's ammunition factory in Snina, Slovakia, prompting the company to temporarily halt operations. The blaze did not result in any injuries and was extinguished by firefighters by the afternoon. The plant, which has an annual capacity of approximately 100,000 shells, is set to triple its production. Despite the temporary shutdown, ZVS co-owner CSG expects no impact on customer deliveries.

ZVS Holding, a joint venture between the Slovak state and Czech defense conglomerate CSG, manufactures various types of artillery shells and ammunition. The company signed a seven-year framework agreement with Slovakia's Defense Ministry in December 2025, which could facilitate future sales to European nations through the EU's SAFE defense-loan program.

Authorities across Europe are investigating suspected Russian sabotage against defense companies, but no evidence has linked the Snina fire to this campaign. Meanwhile, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák stated that the fire had not reached the plant's production equipment and that the affected section was not currently used for manufacturing. He suggested that welding during the plant's renovation may have sparked the fire, though investigations have not confirmed this cause.

CSG indicated that the fire resulted from roof repairs conducted by an external contractor. The company is awaiting further assessment before determining if the incident will affect customer deliveries. Despite the fire, there have been concerns among European arms manufacturers that sabotage threats may be increasing. Since 10 August, at least four fires or explosions have occurred at European ammunition facilities, although no common cause has been established.