Putin Is Outraged: Ukraine Drone Attack Causes an 'Earthquake' in Russia

 

The Ukrainian military recently launched a long-range drone strike on the Toropets strategic ammunition depot in Russia's Tver region, approximately 310 miles from the frontlines. This attack destroyed one of Russia’s largest ammunition facilities, believed to have housed artillery shells and munitions from North Korea, as well as missiles and glide bombs for frontline use.

The explosion, which registered as a 2.7-magnitude earthquake, caused fires across a six-kilometer area. Despite Russia’s claims of shooting down more than 50 Ukrainian drones, the depot was destroyed, reportedly due to inadequate storage conditions, which triggered a series of cascading explosions.

British Military Intelligence assessed that the Toropets depot is part of Russia’s 107th Arsenal under the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, containing munitions of varying calibers, including North Korean artillery shells sold to Moscow.

 The site stored over 30,000 tons of ordnance, and although it was renovated in 2018 following a history of poor storage practices that led to earlier explosions, it remained vulnerable to attack.

This strike is part of Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to target high-value military sites inside Russia. While Ukraine is still awaiting approval to use Western-supplied munitions for strikes on Russian territory, it continues to employ homemade drones and missiles effectively.

 Western countries, including the U.S., U.K., and France, have been cautious about permitting the use of advanced weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia, fearing escalation with Moscow. 

However, as the war nears its 1,000-day mark with over a million casualties, some argue that concerns over escalation are hindering Ukraine’s ability to fight effectively.

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist and a veteran of the Hellenic Army, having served with the 575th Marine Battalion. He holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and has been featured in various outlets including Business Insider and SOFREP.