Wed Sep 18 00:43:12 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Strikes Russian Munitions Depot in Tver Region, Triggering Massive Explosion

**LONDON (Reuters) -** A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Wednesday targeted a major Russian munitions depot in the Tver region, located approximately 240 miles west of Moscow. The attack resulted in a massive explosion, resembling an earthquake in size, according to war bloggers and media reports.

Unverified videos and images circulating online showed a huge ball of flame erupting into the night sky, accompanied by multiple detonations. NASA satellites detected intense heat sources emanating from the area, covering approximately 5 square miles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly address, acknowledged the attack’s success without directly naming the target. He expressed gratitude to the SBU security service, HUR intelligence service, and Special Operations Forces for their precision execution.

A source within Ukraine’s SBU confirmed that the drone attack had destroyed a warehouse containing missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition.

While Russian state media remained largely silent on the incident, citing military censorship laws, Tver region governor Igor Rudenya confirmed that Ukrainian drones had been shot down and that a fire had broken out. He reported evacuations of residents from nearby Toropets due to the fire, without specifying the cause.

Witnesses reported seeing a fire followed by explosions, and some residents of Toropets have been evacuated.

Russian authorities later stated that the situation in Toropets had stabilized and evacuated residents could return. The fire had been extinguished, and no fatalities were reported.

While the scale of the explosion remains unconfirmed, experts suggest a blast equivalent to 200-240 tons of high explosives.

The incident has sparked outrage amongst some Russians, questioning why the ammunition was not stored underground and expressing concerns about the safety of nearby residents.

Both Russia and Ukraine reported numerous drone attacks on their respective territories overnight. Russia claimed to have destroyed 54 drones, while Ukraine reported shooting down 46.

The attack highlights the ongoing drone warfare in the conflict, with both sides utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and offensive operations.

Read More