Summary
Ukraine launches drone attack on Russian territory
Drone strike hits major arsenal, triggering huge explosion
Blast detected by earthquake monitors
NASA satellites capture heat sources from the blast
Some Russian citizens express outrage over the attack
LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) – A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia triggered a massive explosion resembling an earthquake at a major ammunition depot in Russia’s Tver region on Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of a nearby town, according to war bloggers and media reports.
Unverified videos on social media showed a massive fireball lighting up the night sky, with explosions echoing across a lake, about 380 km (240 miles) west of Moscow.
NASA satellites detected significant heat from an area of roughly 14 square kilometers (5 square miles), and seismic sensors recorded what appeared to be a small earthquake in the region.
Pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka confirmed, "The enemy hit an ammunition depot near Toropets," adding that everything combustible was now on fire and exploding.
Russian state media, typically subject to military censorship, has previously reported the site housed a large conventional weapons arsenal. Coverage of the incident was muted.
Tver Governor Igor Rudenya stated that Ukrainian drones were shot down, a fire broke out, and residents were evacuated. He did not specify what was burning.
One woman told Reuters her family had been evacuated from Toropets: "A fire started with explosions," she said, identifying herself only as Irina.
By midday, Rudenya announced that the situation had stabilized, the fire was extinguished, and residents could return, with no fatalities reported.
A Ukrainian security source told Reuters the attack destroyed a warehouse containing missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition. There was no official comment from Ukraine’s government.
Both Russia and Ukraine reported dozens of drone attacks on each other's territory overnight, while Russian forces made advances in eastern Ukraine.
Major Explosion
George William Herbert of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies estimated the explosion, seen in unverified videos, to be consistent with the detonation of 200-240 tons of high explosives.
Social media in Russia was flooded with messages of support for those affected, with some users seeking updates on specific locations. "Does anyone know what happened to Kudino village?" one woman posted, fearing her house was destroyed. Another replied: "It's horror there." Kudino lies 4.5 km (2.8 miles) northeast of Toropets.
Some war bloggers questioned how drones could cause such large explosions at a supposedly fortified facility. According to a 2018 RIA report, Russia had built a highly secure arsenal in Toropets, designed to withstand air and missile strikes, and even a small nuclear explosion.
However, Russian citizens expressed frustration online. "Why wasn’t the ammunition stored underground? Houses were blown away in Kudino! What kind of negligence is this?" one woman posted in anger.
Russia’s air defense claimed it had destroyed 54 drones targeting five regions, though no mention of Tver was made. Ukraine reported it had shot down 46 of 52 Russian drones launched overnight.
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