Cyprus National Guard on Alert After 13 kg of TNT Goes Missing During Military Drill

The Cyprus National Guard has raised an alert after approximately 13.6 kg of TNT explosives reportedly ‘disappeared’ during a military exercise by the Engineering Unit at the Kalo Chorio firing range on Thursday, 29 January 2026. According to reports from ERT’s Cyprus correspondent, the incident came to light when trainees approached the detonation site after a failed ignition—despite full compliance with all safety protocols, including a one-hour waiting period and drone verification confirming no explosion occurred—and found the explosives missing. The National Guard leadership, the Minister of Defence, and the Police were immediately notified. The area was cordoned off, and investigations—closely monitored by the Chief of the National Guard—began promptly. Two main scenarios are under investigation: unauthorized removal by unknown individuals or simultaneous detonation alongside other controlled explosions during the drill, rendering it imperceptible. Officials consider the latter more likely, as the National Guard spokesperson, Christos Pieris, confirmed that investigators are focusing on detecting blast residues or forensic evidence supporting this theory. For security reasons, the scheduled exercise has been suspended, while authorities continue collecting evidence and conducting a detailed forensic examination of the site.