Thirteen people were injured in Russia’s Tver region after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire, according to the Russian health ministry. Unverified footage circulating on social media showed a massive explosion in the town of Toropets, with detonations and smoke filling the sky. A partial evacuation was ordered following the strike early on Wednesday, though the regional governor later stated that all infrastructure had resumed normal operations.
Both AFP and Reuters news agencies reported that Ukrainian sources confirmed the strike targeted a significant military ammunitions depot. The depot reportedly housed fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other explosives. These weapons have been integral to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian drones, made domestically, were used in this attack as Western-supplied missiles have not yet been approved for use by the US and UK.
The destruction of the military arsenal, valued at approximately £30m ($39m), marks a significant blow to Russian forces. NASA reported detecting a series of heat sources in the area via satellite imagery, and a minor earthquake was registered in the surrounding Tver region.
Ukrainian officials claim that Russia had begun storing North Korean missiles at the site in addition to its own ammunition, though these claims have not been independently verified.
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not specify targets but lauded the impact of the attack, stating, “There is a significant outcome from last night on the territory of Russia, and this is the type of action that weakens the enemy.”
Toropets, situated 380km northwest of Moscow and 470km north of Ukraine’s border, has been the latest site of escalating Ukrainian drone activity within Russian territory. Authorities in Toropets prepared buses for evacuation, though it remains unclear how many residents were relocated.
The attack represents a significant morale boost for Ukrainian forces, as they continue to ramp up drone strikes against Russian infrastructure. Kyiv hopes that these actions will send a message to the West—that targeting sites inside Russia helps Ukraine defend itself without escalating the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry reported the destruction of 54 drones in overnight attacks across five regions, including Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, and Belgorod. In Belgorod, four civilians were injured during a drone attack on a minibus.
Ukraine has not commented on these strikes. On the defensive side, Ukrainian air forces intercepted incoming Russian drones near Kyiv, while additional blasts were reported in the north-eastern city of Sumy. In total, Ukraine claims to have shot down 46 of 52 drones launched by Russia overnight, although energy infrastructure in multiple regions remains under fire.
The drone attacks mark another chapter in the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.