Ukrainian drone strike triggers massive explosion at Russian arsenal in Tver region

A significant Ukrainian drone assault on Russia resulted in an explosion comparable to an earthquake at a major military arsenal in the Tver region on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of a nearby town, according to war bloggers and various media reports.

Unverified footage shared on social media depicted a massive fireball shooting into the night sky, accompanied by multiple explosions resonating across a lake approximately 380 kilometers (240 miles) west of Moscow. NASA satellites detected intense heat signatures over an area of around 14 square kilometers (5 square miles) at the site, while earthquake monitoring stations reported activity resembling a minor earthquake.

“The enemy struck an ammunition depot in the Toropets area,” Yuri Podolyaka, a pro-Russian military blogger originally from Ukraine told news agency Reuters. “Everything that can burn is already igniting and exploding.”

No casualties have been reported so far. Russian state media, previously known to report on significant arsenals located at the site, remained subdued in its coverage, constrained by military censorship laws.

Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, stated that Ukrainian drones had been intercepted, a fire had erupted, and residents were being evacuated, though he did not specify what was ablaze, according to the Reuters report. One local resident, identified only as Irina, informed Reuters that her family members had been evacuated from Toropets, saying, “A fire started with explosions.”

According to a source within Ukraine’s SBU state security service who spoke to Reuters, the drone strike resulted in the destruction of a warehouse housing missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition. The Ukrainian government has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.

Both Russia and Ukraine reported numerous drone attacks on their territories overnight, with Russian forces making advances in eastern Ukraine.

Major explosion

The magnitude of the principal explosion, as observed in unverified social media videos, was consistent with the detonation of 200 to 240 tons of high explosives, according to George William Herbert from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California.

A chatroom on the Russian social media platform VK dedicated to Toropets was inundated with messages offering support from across the country, as well as inquiries about the status of various buildings. One user questioned, “Does anyone know what happened to Kudino village? I was told our house is gone.” Another responded, “It’s a disaster there,” referencing Kudino, located 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) northeast of Toropets.

Some war bloggers expressed skepticism about how drones could instigate such substantial explosions at what was believed to be a highly fortified facility. According to a report from RIA state news agency in 2018, Russia was in the process of constructing an arsenal for missiles, ammunition, and explosives storage in Toropets, a town with a history spanning over 1,000 years and a population of just over 11,000.

Dmitry Bulgakov, a former deputy defense minister, stated in 2018 that the facility was designed to protect its contents from missile strikes and even minor nuclear attacks. Bulgakov, who was arrested on corruption charges earlier this year, has denied the allegations. “These concrete facilities ensure reliable and safe storage, protecting them from aerial and missile attacks, as well as the effects of a nuclear explosion,” RIA quoted him.

Public sentiment on Russian chat groups reflected frustration. “Why wasn’t the ammunition stored underground? What are you doing? In Kudino, houses have been destroyed! Why is the forest ablaze with no one around? What kind of negligence is this?” one user posted.

Russia’s defense units reported the destruction of 54 drones launched against five regions overnight, although Tver was not mentioned. Ukraine claimed it had shot down 46 of 52 drones launched by Moscow that night, along with three guided missiles that failed to reach their targets.

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