Footage captures the blasts following a drone strike on a Russian ammunition warehouse. CNN
In a significant escalation of hostilities, a Ukrainian drone attack overnight destroyed an ammunition depot in the western Russian region of Tver, according to a source from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). The strike targeted a military warehouse in the city of Toropets, where various munitions, including Iskander and Tochka-U missile systems, guided aerial bombs, and artillery shells were stored.
The attack led to a massive explosion, igniting large fires across the area. Local authorities reported that the blast resulted from debris from drones that were intercepted by Russian air defences. Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, ordered a partial evacuation in the early hours of Wednesday to ensure the safety of residents amid the chaos.
Seismologists have noted that the explosions from the drone strike might have caused detectable seismic activity. Ben Dando, a seismologist at the Norwegian research foundation NORSAR, stated that sensors picked up seismic signals registering between 2.5 and 2.8 magnitude in northwest Russia, likely linked to the drone attack. NORSAR has been monitoring seismic data to assess the effects of the ongoing conflict since 2022 and is currently evaluating the full impact of the explosion.
These satellite images provide a view of the ammunition depot in Toropets, Tver region, Russia, before the explosion during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. CNN
Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows the aftermath of the attack, highlighting extensive damage to the depot and the surrounding forest, with plumes of smoke billowing from the site. Fires continued to burn well into the morning, indicating the severity of the destruction.
While Russian state media acknowledged that a drone strike occurred, they reported that the resulting fire was due to falling debris rather than directly targeting a weapons facility. Verified videos circulating on social media captured the dramatic sounds of the detonations and the sight of several buildings engulfed in flames.
In the wake of the attack, local authorities reported that affected residents, including 11 children, were evacuated to nearby settlements in the Pskov region. Fortunately, no civilian injuries have been reported. Governor Rudenya emphasized the importance of maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of the population as emergency services worked to control the fires.
Rudenya's administration stated that emergency responders were fully mobilized to tackle the blaze, and he released a video urging residents to evacuate the area promptly to allow emergency operations to proceed smoothly.
These satellite pictures display the ammunition depot in Toropets, Tver region, Russia, both before and after the explosion during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. USA TODAY
According to the Ukrainian source, such attacks are part of a systematic effort to weaken Russia’s missile capabilities. They indicated that plans for further strikes on similar military targets in Russia are already underway.
Toropets is situated approximately 300 miles from the Ukrainian border and around 250 miles west of Moscow, making it a strategic target for Ukraine’s military operations. The conflict continues to escalate, with Ukraine pushing its allies, particularly the United States, for permission to conduct missile strikes on targets deeper within Russian territory. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned NATO members that lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s long-range missile systems could escalate the situation into a direct conflict with Russia.
