The explosion at the Toropets strategic ammunition depot in Russia’s Tver Oblast, approximately 500km from Ukraine, was recorded at 2.7 on the Richter scale, equivalent to a mild earthquake.
As reported by the United Kingdom and its Ministry of Defense, fires resulting from the attack covered a 6 km-wide area. It is highly likely that poor storage of munitions, left vulnerable to one-way attack (OWA) uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), caused a chain reaction of cascading detonations within the bunker system, resulting in enormous losses of ordnance.
Analysts of the British military intelligence agency argue that Russian air defense continues to struggle with Ukrainian deep strike operations, despite claiming to have intercepted more than 50 UAVs in this attack.
The British military analysts note that, although part of a wider supply network, this loss will highly likely disrupt Russian ground operations, particularly in the Kursk Oblast.
Munitions for frontline use, including from North Korea
Overnight on 17/18 September 2024, Ukraine conducted a successful strike on Toropets in Russia’s Tver Oblast. This depot is a storage site of the 107th Arsenal of the Russian Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, and almost certainly housed munitions of varying calibers for frontline use, as well as missiles and glide bombs used by nearby airfields.
In addition, ammunition procured from North Korea was also reportedly stored here.
Renovated in 2018, this is one of Russia’s largest strategic ammunition depots directly supporting its combat operations in Ukraine, storing more than 30,000 tonnes of ordnance.
Recent improvements to the site had been driven by previous poor storage of aging explosive material leading to a series of explosions across several depots.
One such explosion in June 2011 in Pugachevo, Udmurtia, saw 3,000 homes damaged and 30,000 people evacuated.
Related:
- UK intel: Russian casualties remain high as capability constraints reduce ability to exploit tactical success
- UK intel: Russia creating volunteer units to counter Ukraine in Kursk Oblast while prioritizing Pokrovsk axis
- UK Intel: Despite alleged willingness for negotiations, Russia retains maximalist objectives against Ukraine
- UK intel: Russian recruitment ambitions hampered by challenges, including heavy losses
- UK intel: Russian forces intensify offensive operations across entire frontline
