Early Wednesday morning, a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian military arsenal near the town of Toropets in the Tver region, about 250 miles west of Moscow, caused a massive explosion and fire. The incident forced the partial evacuation of residents from the town.
According to a Ukrainian security source cited by AFP, the drones struck a warehouse storing missiles and artillery, causing a powerful detonation. The source claimed that the warehouse contained missiles for Iskander and Tochka-U tactical missile systems, guided aerial bombs, and artillery ammunition.
Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, confirmed the fire on his Telegram messaging channel, stating that firefighters were working to contain the blaze. However, he did not disclose the nature of the burning structure.
Unverified videos and images circulating on social media depicted a massive fireball shooting into the night sky, accompanied by loud explosions. The incident occurred in a region northwest of Moscow, near the Belarus border.
The attack, which destroyed one of Russia’s largest weapons depots, highlights the effectiveness of drone swarms in targeting strategic military infrastructure. According to reports, the explosion destroyed hundreds of S-300, S-400, Iskander, and North Korean ballistic missiles, and even caused a 2.8 magnitude earthquake.
The targeted arsenal, located in Toropets, a town of over 11,000 residents, was built in 2015 at a cost of 3.6 billion roubles ($39 million). The facility was equipped with cold and heated storage rooms, electrical substations, treatment facilities, water and fuel storage tanks, and multiple fire ponds. It was designed to store missiles, ammunition, and explosives in optimal conditions. The arsenal was put into operation in 2018 and could accommodate up to 240 tons of ordnance per storage facility. The facility was also equipped to house up to 200 servicemen.
This incident signifies a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict, demonstrating the potential of Ukrainian forces to strike deep within Russian territory with devastating results. The use of drones has become a key element in the ongoing war, highlighting their growing importance in modern warfare.
