Toropets depot explosions
Part of the Ukrainian attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
Date | September 17–18, 2024 (2024-09-17 – 2024-09-18) |
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Time | 3:56 (UTC+03:00) |
Venue | Toropets weapon depot |
Location | Toropets, Tver Oblast, Russia |
Type | Weapons storage explosion |
Cause | Ukrainian drone attack |
Perpetrator | Security Service of Ukraine |
Deaths | 0 [1] |
Non-fatal injuries | 13[2] |
On the night of 17–18 September 2024, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) ammunition depot in Toropets, causing a massive series of explosions and fires and shattering of windows across nearby towns.[3][4] The main explosion caused a seismic wave of magnitude 2.5~2.8 on 18 September, 3:56am, local time.[5][6]
Context
Following more than two years of war, Ukraine recently moved the conflict into Russian territories. On 6 August 2024, Ukraine launched an incursion into Kursk Oblast. Ukraine also argues with Western allies providing weapons for longer range munitions and the right to use them deeper into Russia with the purpose of attacking legitimate military targets used by Russia to attack Ukraine and putting political pressure on Putin. [7] This attack, likely lead with domestically-manufactured drones, would aim at normalizing such in depth attacks.[8]
Target
Euronews reported that the military ammunition depot had been renovated in 2018, and that the Russian deputy defense minister claimed that "the site met the 'highest international standards' and could defend against weapons such as missiles and 'even a small nuclear attack' ".[9] Euronews also reported that approximately 30,000 tonnes of military munitions were stored at the facility, including "fuel tanks, as well as missiles intended for Iskander and Tochka-U missile systems, guided aerial bombs and assorted artillery ammunition. ... including some North Korean munitions."[10] NBC reported that KAB missiles were also stored at the facility.[9]
Depot contents
- Fuel tanks[10]
- Missiles and explosive warehouses[8]
- S300 missiles[11]
- Iskander tactical missile systems[5][10]
- Tochka-U tactical missile systems[5][10]
- Guided aerial bombs[5][10] / KABs[8][9]
- North Korean KN-23 missiles[11]
- Artillery ammunition[5][10]
- North Korean munitions[10]
Attack
Ukrainska Pravda cited Ukraine's Security Service, Defence Intelligence and Special Operations Force as the author of the nighttime attack.[8] According to Russian Defense Ministry, all of the 54 Ukrainian drones aimed at western Russian regions were successfully intercepted.[8] According to Igor Rudenya, governor of Tver Oblast, debris of a successfully downed Ukrainian drone caused the fire, igniting the ammunition depot and the series of explosions.[8][4][12][13][14]
Explosions
The attack resulted in multiple secondary explosions, the largest being an earthquake-magnitude blast.[15] The blast wave spread up to 200 mi (320 km) and was estimated to be consistent with 200–240 tonnes of TNT (840–1,000 GJ) of high-explosives detonating.[16][15][9] Resulting fires were detected from NASA's fire monitoring systems as covering an area of approximately 13 km2 (5 sq mi).[15]
Consequences
Igor Rudenya, governor of Tver Oblast, announced a partial evacuation of the town but that there were no serious injuries nor fatalities.[4][12][13][14] Russian officials later reported that 13 people had been injured.[2]
References
- ^ Papachristou, Lucy; Kelly, Lidia (18 September 2024). "Ukrainian drone attack triggers earthquake-sized blast at arsenal in Russia's Tver region". Reuters. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ a b Lukiv, Jaroslav. "Ukraine drone attack in Russia sparks fire". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Lukiv, Jaroslav. "Russia Tver region orders evacuation after Ukrainian drone attack". BBC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Drone Attack On Arms Depot Forces Evacuations In Russia's Tver Region". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Niamh (18 September 2024). "Ukraine claims to have destroyed large Russian ammunition depot in overnight drone attack". CNN. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Mag. 2.8 quake - Toropetskiy, Tver', 33 km northwest of Toropets, Tver' , Russia, on Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024, at 05:56 pm (Moscow time)". VolcanoDiscovery.com. 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine would have military reason for striking deeper into Russia, NATO official says". Reuters. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Sauer, Pjotr (18 September 2024). "Blast from attack on Russian arms depot picked up on earthquake monitors". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Alexander (18 September 2024). "Ukrainian drone attack triggers huge blasts at Russian ammo depot". NBC News. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "What was stored at the Russian arms depot in Tver region struck by Ukraine's drones?". Euronews. 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b Axe, David. "Russia May Have Stockpiled Its Best Missiles At An Arsenal In The Town Of Toropets. Which Is Why Ukraine Just Blew It Up With 100 Drones". Forbes. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Schools in one municipality of Russia's Tver region withdraw services after drone attack". TASS. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b "The town of Toropets in the Tver region was attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The evacuation of residents has been announced". Oreanda News. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets". TASS. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Cole, Brendan (19 September 2024). "Russian Ammo Depot 1.8 Kiloton Blast May Be 'Biggest Single Event' in War". Newsweek. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Lidia Kelly; Lucy Papachristou (18 September 2024). "Ukrainian drone attack triggersi earthquake-sized blast at arsenal in Russia's Tver region". Reuters.
See also
- 2020 Beirut explosion
- 2022 Crimean Bridge explosion
- 2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouse explosions
- Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
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