A large Ukrainian drone attack on an ammunition depot in Russia’s Tver region triggered a massive explosion and fire, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in an explosion so powerful that it was detected by earthquake monitoring stations and NASA satellites.
Videos shared on social media showed a fireball lighting up the night sky, with multiple explosions reverberating across a lake approximately 380 kilometers (240 miles) west of Moscow. NASA’s satellite images indicated intense heat emanating from a large area, around 14 square kilometers, as a result of the explosion.
According to Ukrainian military bloggers and media outlets, the blast occurred at an arsenal believed to contain missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition. Although Russian state media, now subject to military censorship, downplayed the incident, local reports and social media indicated widespread damage and concern among residents.
Yuri Podolyaka, a pro-Russian military blogger, confirmed the explosion, stating, “The enemy hit an ammunition depot in the area of Toropets. Everything that can burn is already burning there (and exploding).”
While not directly addressing the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the success of operations on Russian territory, noting in his nightly address that “a very important result was achieved last night on Russian territory,” though he did not specify the target.
Earlier, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service told Reuters that the drone strike had successfully destroyed a storage facility for missiles and artillery. The Ukrainian president praised the involvement of various military and intelligence agencies, including the SBU, HUR intelligence service, and Special Operations Forces.
Russian authorities confirmed that Ukrainian drones were involved in the incident. Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, reported that some residents were evacuated due to the resulting fire. Although there were no reported fatalities, one resident of Toropets described witnessing explosions and being evacuated with her family.
Despite the scale of the blast, which some experts likened to the detonation of 200 to 240 tons of explosives, the fire was extinguished by midday, and residents were allowed to return to their homes, according to Rudenya. The governor did not confirm the specific cause of the explosion or the exact contents of the depot.
The attack has raised questions about the safety and security of Russia’s ammunition depots. Some war bloggers and local residents expressed frustration, questioning how a drone could cause such a large-scale explosion at a facility thought to be fortified against attacks.
Local chatrooms on social media were flooded with posts from concerned residents, with one person asking, “Why wasn’t the ammunition underground? What are you doing?” Others shared concerns about the safety of nearby villages, such as Kudino, where houses were reportedly destroyed by the blast.
As tensions escalate, both Russia and Ukraine continue to report drone attacks on each other’s territory. Russian forces claimed to have destroyed 54 drones targeting five regions overnight, while Ukraine reported that it had shot down 46 of 52 drones launched by Moscow.
The incident highlights the ongoing intensity of the conflict, with both sides utilizing drones in their strategic efforts and causing significant damage.
