UK intel: Ukraine’s attack on munitions depot highly likely to disrupt Russian ground operations in Kursk Oblast

Despite claims of intercepting Ukrainian drones, the attack's success highlights ongoing struggles in Russian air defense against Ukrainian long-range strikes.

Sep 22, 2024 - 16:00
UK intel: Ukraine’s attack on munitions depot highly likely to disrupt Russian ground operations in Kursk Oblast

Satellite photography showing the result of the Ukrainian attack on Toropets, in the Tver Oblast, Russia. Photo via UK Ministry of Defense.

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.

The massive explosion at Russia’s Toropets strategic ammunition depot, one of the country’s largest, highlights a significant blow to Russian military capabilities and exposes ongoing vulnerabilities in their defense systems. The attack’s success, despite claimed air defense interceptions, underscores Ukraine’s growing ability to strike deep within Russian territory.

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.

Satellite photography showcasing the affected area where explosions took place. Photo via the UK Ministry of Defense/Twitter.
Satellite photography showcasing the affected area where explosions took place. Photo via the UK Ministry of Defense/Twitter.

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.

Satellite photography showcasing the affected area where explosions took place. Photo via the UK Ministry of Defense/Twitter.
Satellite photography showcasing the affected area where explosions took place. Photo via the UK Ministry of Defense/Twitter.

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.

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