Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russian Arms Depot Sparks Evacuations and Chaos in Tver Region
A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted a Russian arms depot in the Tver region, causing a massive fire and explosion that was so intense it was detected by earthquake monitors. The strike, which hit a defence ministry warehouse in the ancient town of Toropets, led to widespread evacuations, power outages, and school closures.
The depot, which reportedly contained Iskander and Tochka-U tactical missile systems, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition, suffered an "extremely powerful detonation," according to a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service. The explosion triggered a series of blasts that caused panic and chaos in the town, which is located northwest of Moscow, approximately 65 miles from the Belarusian border.
Russian state media had previously identified the Toropets site as a major arsenal for conventional weaponry, making it a strategic target for Ukraine’s military operations.
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This attack comes amid fresh reports from Western intelligence that suggest the total casualties in Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine may have surpassed one million. According to a confidential estimate from Kyiv, cited by the Wall Street Journal, around 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with another 400,000 wounded. Russian casualties are estimated at around 200,000 killed and 400,000 wounded, though figures vary.
The Ukrainian strike marks a significant escalation in the use of drones to hit Russian military infrastructure deep inside the country, a tactic that has proven increasingly effective as the war grinds on. The destruction of such key assets could further hamper Russia’s military capabilities, while also signalling Ukraine's growing ability to target strategic sites far from the front lines.
The full scale of damage from the explosion in Toropets is still being assessed, but the attack has sent shockwaves across the region and disrupted daily life for thousands of Russian residents.