Ukrainian Drone Strike Devastates Russian Missile Facility, Disrupting Long-Range Strike Capabilities

Satellite imagery has captured the significant damage from a recent drone attack on a Russian missile and ammunition facility believed to house rockets capable of nuclear warheads. The strike, which took place in Toropets, Tver oblast, occurred early Wednesday morning and is reportedly one of the largest attacks of the conflict so far.

The explosion from the attack was so powerful that it was detected as a small earthquake, according to Reuters. This attack is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russian long-range missile capabilities.

The operation involved Ukrainian drone operators from several military and intelligence agencies, including the Security Service (SBU), the Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), and the Special Operations Forces (SSO).

The facility targeted is the 107th Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) arsenal, located about 240 miles west of Moscow. The facility’s destruction was depicted in widely circulated social media videos, which showed a massive fireball and multiple explosions.

Satellite images from before and after the attack reveal extensive damage, with smoke rising from the site. NASA’s thermal imaging captured heat signatures across the facility, which was known to store various types of missiles and ammunition.

The facility’s contents reportedly included Iskander and Tochka-U missiles, as well as anti-aircraft missiles and artillery. Additionally, there are suggestions that the site might have also contained Grad MLRS, S-300 and S-400 air defense missiles, and North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles.

The impact of the drone strikes is significant, as they are disrupting Russia’s ability to launch long-range missile strikes against Ukraine.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian military logistics sites are likely to pressure Russian military operations more broadly, similar to the way earlier strikes on logistics depots forced Russian forces to disperse their ammunition storage. Such strategic hits could force Russia to adapt its operational strategies.

In response to the attack, Russian military bloggers have criticized the Russian authorities for the poor construction of the Tver facility and alleged mismanagement of the missile and ammunition stockpiles.

They have specifically pointed fingers at high-ranking officials, including the former Deputy Minister of Defense, Dmitry Bulgakov, who was responsible for overseeing the facility’s construction and has since been arrested on fraud charges.