“On September 18, the Russian mass media reported on a mass drone attack on Toropets”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Analysts note that “the arsenal destroyed on September 18 was one of Russia’s largest strategic warehouses, which stored more than 30,000 tons of ammunition.”
According to British intelligence, in 2018, “repair work related to improper storage of ammunition was carried out at the facility, which previously led to a series of explosions at several warehouses.”
British intelligence believes that the strike by the Armed Forces caused a “chain reaction of cascading detonations in the bunker system”, which led to “a large loss of ammunition by Russia”.
The British military notes that “Russian air defense is experiencing difficulties in countering Ukrainian operations with strikes deep into the territory of the Russian Federation, despite claims of intercepting more than 50 UAVs during an attack in the Tver region.”
In their opinion, a strike on the arsenal in Toropka will most likely “lead to the disruption of Russian ground operations, especially in the Kursk region.”
On September 18, the Russian mass media reported on a mass drone attack on Toropets. Air defense forces worked in the city. In view of this, the local authorities have begun to evacuate the population.
Later, videos of loud explosions and large-scale fires, filmed by local residents, appeared online. They reported that a warehouse with ammunition had come under attack. The local authorities stated that the fire was caused by “a fall of UAV debris.”
Later, a Radio Liberty source reported that this warehouse was attacked by SBU, GUR, and SSO drones. According to the interlocutor of the journalists, missiles for the “Iskander” and “Tochka-U” complexes, as well as guided aerial bombs (KABs) were stored there.
Subsequently, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi indirectly confirmed the work of Ukrainian drones.
“I want to thank our soldiers today, who ensure our Ukrainian long-range capability. A very important result was obtained last night on the territory of Russia, and it is such things that weaken the enemy,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video on his official page.
This arsenal of complex storage of missiles, ammunition and explosive materials was built in 2018. According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation at the time, the warehouse met the highest international standards – each of its storage facilities could hold up to 240 tons of ammunition.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that attacks causing widespread damage like the one at the Toropka depot could force the Russian military command to disperse its ammunition depots. According to ISW analysts, this will reduce the efficiency of Russian logistics.
“Continued Ukrainian strikes against rear Russian logistics facilities on Russian territory will lead to broader operational pressure on the Russian military, in addition to the separate destruction of ammunition stocks and logistics facilities,” the ISW report said.