The explosions in Toropets, in the Tver region, were so intense that they were picked up by NASA satellites and earthquake monitors.
A Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian missile facility early Wednesday threw up towering fireballs visible from space and thundering detonations that triggered earthquake monitors.
Even by the standards of this incendiary conflict, video showing the blasts north of Moscow made for remarkable footage.
Officials on both sides said it was the result of a large Ukrainian drone attack on Toropets, a town in the Tver region around 230 miles from the Russian capital. Russian state media has previously reported that the military was building an arsenal for storing missiles and other explosives there.
The location of the target sends Russia and hopefully some of the Russian populace two messages:
- Ukraine has the technical capability to hit Moscow
- Ukraine chooses their targets based on tactical strategic value, not based on instilling terror
This was deep behind enemy lines too. Further than Moscow. Bravo
Further than Moscow.
Putin must be shitting himself.
Think they got the green light on long range missile use? Just saying, it’s a long way on and very effective strike…
I definitely don’t buy that it was plain old “drones”. An off-brand Cessna or something like that rigged with remote controls maybe? We’ve seen similar but I don’t know if those have the range or the wherewithal to traipse about in these skies.
it’s rumored to be their new drone “Palianytsia”
I miss one week of RFU updates and they invent a whole new class of cruise missile.
Speaking to reporters early Wednesday, Tver Gov. Igor Rudenya said that all drones in the region were shot down and that there was a fire on the ground as a result of debris from a downed drone. As he spoke, loud explosions could be heard in the background.
Zelensky be like:
Supposedly included a stockpile of iskandr missiles ….
Hypersonic missiles are very difficult to shoot down, so ideally you want to get them much earlier, toward launch. In this case even earlier, while in a warehouse before launch
According to various sources, Ukraine attacked an ammunition depot in the city of Toropets of Tver region, with more than 100 UAVs last night. The explosion occurred in an area where “Tochka-U” and “Iskander” missile systems were located. Residents are being relocated to the neighboring town of Western Dvina, where kindergartens and schools have also been shut down.
I’ve also heard that the losses may potentially also include S300 missiles, grad rockets, and the recently delivered Iranian SRBMs
https://vxtwitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1836242801043873978
Bulgakov noted that the full load of each storage facility is up to 240 tons, and met “the highest world standards”.
the recently delivered Iranian SRBMs
That brings a smile to the dial.
[Penguin] excellent, excellent
It was super effective!
I love this so much
Russian state media has previously reported that the military was building an arsenal for storing missiles and other explosives there.
Uhhh, Russia you know you can lie about this, right? Like you don’t need to announce the location for military targets
I mean… you really can’t. Contracts and even people on the ground more or less reveal this real fast (and is what the OSINT community lives off of). The US and even Ukraine do the same. You can keep it a secret exactly how juicy a target is but you can’t really hide that missiles or tanks or whatever are being built somewhere.
For example, a buddy of mine lives near a US facility that is near some REALLY nice climbing areas nearby. Every couple of months the army swings by and tells everyone to go the fuck away. And it does not take much brain power to realize that THAT is when they are moving whatever they don’t want people to know is at that base. But any other time? You can literally watch equipment being moved from warehouse/hanger to warehouse/hanger while giving someone a belay.
Similar to the take out places surrounding the Pentagon are all of a sudden busier than usual late in the evening, and then a US strike happens somewhere.
Sound pre impact is not a propellor engine. Wonder what they used.
Speculation has it that either “Palyantsia” (small turbojet drone) or “Neptun” (sizable cruise missile, antiship with ground strike capability) were used. Since part of the Russian facility was hardened and underground, I would ordinarily favour the hypothesis of “Neptun”, but it’s supposed to be out of their range and the videos recorded over Russia featured a turbojet sound and the video you linked has a small explosion (this would fit “Palyantsia”, since it’s small).
Socumimus… or whatever you spell it speculated it could also be this:
I’m a little surprised they haven’t had pop at this place yet, preferably when the owner is home:
No military gains in blowing up a status palace. Plus it is surrounded by air defense. Maybe if these where removed because they are needed elsewhere Ukraine might try.
No military gains in blowing up a status palace.
I’d imagine Putin wouldn’t like it very much, attacking his shit directly seems to me to be a valid use of weaponry. It’s about time the little despot had some skin in the game.
Plus it is surrounded by air defense.
So why not test that defense with a few drones? If it’s well defended then no great loss. If it isn’t then Putin will have to take defenses away from other places.
I really wonder if he is the kind of person who would make mistakes because of something like that. If anything the retaliation might be against several high profile civilian targets.
Remember the bombing of the bridge over the Kerch Strait? Similar-ish situation in that it was a big blow to one of his personal projects. I don’t remember any retaliation linked to that though.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-orders-russian-army-expand-war-ukraine-rcna171429
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-drone-attack-russia-ammo-depot-toropets-tver-blasts-quake-fire-rcna171601
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-uses-dragon-drones-spew-feiry-substance-russias-frontlines-rcna170193
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-ukraine-win-war-debate-harris-blinken-kyiv-russia-strikes-rcna170561
