Ukrainian Drone Attack On Russian Iskander Missile Storage Warehouse Causes Earthquake-Stricken Explosion

JAKARTA - Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory destroyed ammunition depots in the Tver region on Wednesday, a source from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said, causing a major earthquake.

Ukrainian drones target warehouses operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the city of Toropets, which stores Iskander tactical missile systems, Tochka-U tactical missile systems, guided air bombs, and artillery ammunition, the source told CNN, as quoted September 19.

A major fire broke out from the wreckage of a drone blocked by local air defenses, the local government said, prompting Regional Governor Tver Igor Rudenya, to order the evacuation of some of the area in the early hours of Wednesday.

"The enemy hit an ammunition depot in the Toropets area," said Yuri Podolyaka, a pro-Russian military blogger born in Ukraine.

"Everything that could catch fire was burned there (and exploded)," he continued.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke in a video evening speech praised the outcome of the attack without referring specifically to the target.

"A very important result was achieved last night on Russian territory and such action weakens the enemy," President Zelensky said.

"I thank everyone involved. Such a coincidence is truly inspiring," he continued.

He thanked the SBU security service, the HUR intelligence service, and the Special Operations Forces.

Earthquake monitoring now believes the explosion from the drone strike may have resulted in seismic activity.

Ben Dando, seismologist at the Norwegian seismological research foundation NORSAR told CNN his sensor "detected seismic signals, measuring 2.5 to 2.8, in northwestern Russia that appeared to be linked to a drone strike launched by Ukraine."

NORSAR, which has been using seismic monitors since 2022 to evaluate the impact of the war in Ukraine, is currently analyzing preliminary data to capture the impact of the explosion completely, Dando added.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery taken by Maxar Technologies on Wednesday morning showed massive plumes of smoke billowing from several depot buildings, as well as severe damage to nearby buildings and forests. Fires continue to occur, as seen in the image of Maxar Technologies.

Meanwhile, Russia's state news agency TASS reported that a drone strike had been launched into the city of Toropets overnight which caused a fire "due to the collapse of debris," without specifying any targeting weapons facilities.

No civilians are expected to have been injured in the drone attack, the news agency reported, citing Governor Rudenya.

"Now we are involved in evacuating residents, residents, maintaining public order," the governor said in a subsequent video statement, emphasizing several emergency service units were involved in the response.

It is known that Toropets is located about 300 miles from the Ukrainian border and about 250 miles west of Moscow.

According to a report by the RIA news agency from 2018, Russia is building an arsenal to store missiles, ammunition and explosives in Toropets, a city of over 1.000 years old with a population of more than 11,000 people.

Dmitry Bulgakov, then deputy defense minister, told RIA in 2018 the facility could defend itself from missiles to small nuclei. Bulgakov was arrested earlier this year on corruption charges he denies.

"This (concrete facility) ensures reliable and secure storage, protects them from air and missile attacks, and even from destructive factors caused by nuclear explosions," Bulgakov said at the time.