The recent destruction of the arsenal of Russian troops near Toropets in the Tver region became an important event that demonstrated the new capabilities of Ukrainian drones. Political commentator Andreas Ruesch, in a column for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, considers this phenomenon to be significant, stressing that the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this operation indicates significant changes in the technological equipment and strategies of both sides of the conflict.
One of the largest and most modern Russian ammunition depots exploded near the small town of Toropets, 360 kilometers from Moscow. Video recordings of local residents and soldiers give an idea of the scale of the disaster. For several hours, until dawn, one detonation followed another. The explosions were so powerful that overseas measuring stations registered them as an earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale.
Frightened Russians, when they saw a huge mushroom cloud from the explosions in photos and videos on social networks, initially thought it was a nuclear attack. However, flight sounds and eyewitness accounts indicate that the cause was a relatively cheap strike using several kamikaze drones. The target was well chosen - the arsenal in Toropka covers dozens of separate ammunition depots on a large area of more than 5 square kilometers. According to unconfirmed reports, 30,000 tons of explosive devices were stored there, including rockets for the Grad rocket launcher, grenades, and probably anti-aircraft missiles.
The arsenal is located right on the railway branch, which is quite understandable from the point of view of logistics. However, the city of Toropets with a population of 11 thousand people and several villages is located in the immediate vicinity. There is only fragmentary information about the victims among the civilian population. According to available data, 7,500 residents were evacuated from the disaster area as part of the evacuation. Photos from Toropets show intact houses, but many of them have broken windows.
The premises belonging to the arsenal and, according to official information, designed for 200 people, most likely suffered serious destruction. One of the Russians wrote on the social network: "Bad news. Many 200s".
As always in such cases, the first task of the Russian authorities is to whitewash what happened and deny their responsibility. While explosion after explosion rang out in the background like fireworks, the governor of the Tver region stood in front of the camera and declared that the work of the emergency services was going "according to plan". In Russia, this is a well-known expression, which means that the authorities have everything under control, even if it does not seem so to the average citizen.
Governor Ihor Rudenia also reported that all enemy drones were shot down, and the fires were caused only by debris. Gullible viewers must conclude that this is an exceptional case of bad luck.
In fact, this disaster shames the Russian regime. The storage facility in Toropka started working only in 2018 and was highly praised by state propaganda. At that time, Deputy Minister of Defense Dmytro Bulgakov, the head of Russian military logistics, specially came there to solemnly cut the ribbon. State media reports said the arsenal was built to state-of-the-art international standards to safely store missiles and ammunition. "Thanks to concrete structures (in Russia, ammunition is often stored in wooden barracks and in the open air) protection from air attacks and even from a nuclear explosion is guaranteed," Bulgakov claimed at the time.
Meanwhile, the army general has long become a symbol of corruption and sloppiness in the Russian Armed Forces. After the complete failure of logistics during the offensive of Russian troops in February 2022, Bulgakov lost popularity. First, he lost his position in the ministry, and then his freedom in July 2024.
The military consequences of the disaster in Toropka are difficult to assess. If 30,000 tons of munitions were really destroyed, that is a lot. However, according to estimates, Russia has already released 40 times more artillery ammunition in this conflict.
It should be noted that, according to official data, there were only five such facilities in the west of the Russian Federation. The Northern Group of Forces, in particular those engaged in hostilities in the Kursk region and on the Kharkiv front, are likely to have supply problems. Railway lines run from Toropets to the corresponding sections of the front.
However, above all, this event shows how powerful Ukrainian long-range drones have become. This success is unlikely to remain an isolated case and will force the Russians to reconsider logistics. Small ammunition depots near the front are already under threat: only on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Navy reported a successful missile attack on the arsenal near Mariupol.
