A huge mushroom cloud rose above an “indestructible” weapons depot in Russia as Ukraine launched a devastating kamikaze drone attack overnight.
Shocking images showed the extent of the damage caused by an explosion that ripped through two missile and munitions centres some 235 miles west of Moscow.
The initial attacks were followed by repeated fireball explosions as Putin lost tens of millions of pounds worth of materiel that was supposed to be going towards his war effort in Ukraine.
A mass evacuation of residents in Toropets and nearby villages took place this morning after facilities containing up to 30,000 tonnes of munitions were attacked.
Russia said it destroyed 54 drones launched early Wednesday toward five western Russian regions. No information was given about casualties.
Flames shot into the sky early Wednesday as Ukrainian drones bombed the site in Toropets.
Russian state media reported the site housed a major munitions centre used for the war.
Fires spread after kamikaze drones hit missile and ammunition site in Toropets
According to a 2018 report by state news agency RIA, Russia was building an arsenal to store missiles, ammunition and explosives in Toropets, a 1,000-year-old town with a population of just over 11,000.
Putin’s Deputy Defense Minister, General Dmitry Bulgakov, said that “the project protects missiles and ammunition from external impacts and ensures proper maintenance. It is explosion-proof and fire-proof.”
Bulgakov has since been arrested in a purge by Putin of senior Defence Ministry officials amid widespread allegations of corruption.
NASA satellites picked up several sources emanating from the site early Wednesday, and earthquake monitoring stations picked up what sensors thought was a minor quake in the area.
Firefighters are trying to contain the blaze, Tver Region Governor Igor Rudenya said in a Telegram message, though he did not specify what was burning.
He initially wrote: “Air defense forces continue to repel a massive drone attack in the sky (Toropets).”
The regional government later said that “to ensure the safety of residents, the governor… decided to partially evacuate the population from the area where air defence forces are working and the fire is being localised.”
Schools and kindergartens in the area were also ordered to close today due to the continued explosions and toxic smoke.
Residents of the city complained that no warnings were being sounded about the arrival of kamikaze drones.
In addition to the large fire that broke out after the mushroom cloud exploded, several other fires broke out after the drone strike, according to satellite data and local footage. The fires then spread.
Several depots were built in Toropets, containing up to 240 tons of missiles, ammunition and explosives.
Ukrainian war journalist Denis Kazansky said: ‘The scale of the detonation of the warehouse in the Tver region is impressive…
“The 107th arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Federation is on fire.”
The depots contained multiple rocket launcher missiles, mortar mines and anti-aircraft missiles, he said. “In total, the volume of the stockpile is estimated at 30,000 tons.”
North Korean and Iranian missiles may have been among the missiles that exploded and burned up.
Bulgakov boasted that the arsenal “will hide missiles, ammunition and explosives in quick-assembly concrete warehouses.”
‘It will relieve the strain on existing facilities, minimise the terrorist threat and improve the environment in the storage area.’
Kindergartens were forced to close on Wednesday as a plume of toxic smoke rose over the city.
Residents of the city complained that no warnings were being sounded about the arrival of kamikaze drones.
Firefighters were trying to contain the blaze, the regional governor admitted on Wednesday.
The facility is located about 285 miles from the Ukrainian border.
As is typical for such attacks, Russian officials said the explosions were caused by drone debris falling after air defenses hit the approaching UAVs.
In reality, these are usually direct attacks from Ukraine that evade air defenses.
Russian officials rarely reveal the full extent of the damage inflicted by Ukrainian attacks.
As Ukraine has ramped up its domestic production of drones over the past two years, it has also stepped up attacks on Russian territory.
The largest drone attack in Ukraine’s history hit the Russian capital in September, killing at least one person, destroying homes and disrupting flights at Moscow airports.