Ukrainian Attacks Devastate Russian Ammunition Depots in Toropets and Tikhoretsk

Ukraine announced on Saturday that its armed forces had carried out strikes on two major ammunition depots deep within Russian territory. This was the second such attack within the span of a week as Kyiv intensifies its efforts to weaken Russian military logistics and halt Moscow’s advances on the battlefield.

The two depots targeted in these overnight strikes were located near the towns of Toropets, in Russia’s northwestern region, and Tikhoretsk, in the southwest. These locations are notable for being over 200 miles from Ukrainian-controlled areas, signaling a growing capability on Ukraine’s part to strike well behind enemy lines. One of these depots, specifically the one near Tikhoretsk, has been identified as a significant storage site for munitions Russia reportedly received from North Korea. The event was widely observed and recorded on social media.

Russian munitions depots in the Krasnodar region.

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Targeting Toropets and Tikhoretsk

The Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the strike on the depot near Toropets, indicating it was hit by drones. However, the details surrounding the strike on the Tikhoretsk facility were more ambiguous, with Ukrainian sources stating only that the depot had been “hit by fire.” This cryptic description raises the possibility that a new or advanced type of weapon may have been used in the attack.

These strikes come amid Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to convince Western allies to allow it to use powerful long-range missiles for attacks deep within Russian territory. However, despite these ongoing negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that no such approval has yet been granted. In the meantime, Kyiv has been repurposing and modifying its own arsenal of missiles and drones to extend their range for such attacks.

Russian Reactions to the Strikes

Although the Russian government has not officially acknowledged these strikes, regional authorities provided some insight. In Tikhoretsk, they reported that a drone attack ignited a fire, which then spread to “explosive objects,” leading to multiple detonations. The local population was affected as approximately 1,200 residents were evacuated from the area due to the potential risk of further explosions. In Toropets, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported that another drone strike forced the evacuation of a train station and caused a temporary suspension of highway traffic.

Even NASA satellites detected multiple fires at both locations following the strikes, further validating claims that mounted on social media. These attacks are apparently part of a broader strategy that Kyiv is employing to systematically target Russian military infrastructure, especially ammunition depots, which are essential for sustaining Moscow’s firepower on the frontlines.

Ukraine’s Strategy to Disrupt Russian Logistics

Experts have underscored the importance of these attacks, with Ukrainian officials noting that weakening Russia’s ability to resupply its troops with ammunition could significantly shift the balance of power. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, emphasized that targeting logistical hubs like ammunition depots is crucial to undermining Russia’s war efforts. “Tanks and guns without ammunition will not fire and will simply be ineffective,” he said, highlighting the strategic importance of these operations.

The significance of these strikes was demonstrated earlier in the week when an ammunition depot near Toropets was attacked by Ukrainian drones. This earlier strike resulted in a massive explosion, with videos capturing enormous fireballs illuminating the night sky. Satellite imagery from NASA continued to show fires at the site even days later.

North Korean Weapons and the Tikhoretsk Depot

One of the key aspects of the recent attack on Tikhoretsk is its connection to North Korean arms supplies. Since late 2022, Russia has reportedly been acquiring ammunition and missiles from North Korea to replenish its dwindling stocks of Soviet-era weapons. The Tikhoretsk depot is believed to have become a critical storage and redistribution center for these munitions, with reports from both U.S. officials and independent think tanks confirming this connection.

Imagery from September 2023 showed trains delivering containers to the facility that matched the specifications of those seen being loaded in North Korea. Ukrainian military officials further stated that 2,000 tons of ammunition, including supplies from North Korea, had been delivered to Tikhoretsk shortly before the strike. This injection of North Korean arms, particularly artillery shells, has helped Russia maintain its edge on the battlefield, despite the ongoing war of attrition.

Impact of the Strikes on Russia’s War Effort

While the full extent of the damage caused by the latest strikes remains unclear, the previous attack on Toropets earlier in the week gives a glimpse of their potential impact. British Defense Ministry satellite imagery revealed massive craters and destroyed storage bunkers at the site, with Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of Estonia’s military intelligence center, estimating that “30,000 tons of explosive ordnance” were detonated in the attack. This equates to roughly 750,000 artillery shells, which could supply Russian forces in Ukraine for two to three months.

Though these assessments have not been independently verified, they highlight the scale of the loss for Russia and suggest that these strikes could have a tangible effect on the battlefield in the coming weeks.

Ukraine’s Evolving Arsenal

One of the more intriguing aspects of these attacks is the mystery surrounding the weapons used. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for air power and technology, suggested that even relatively small warheads carried by attack drones could set off ammunition stored in vulnerable locations if they strike critical points. However, many of these depots are heavily fortified with earth berms and concrete shelters, which means that standard drones may not always suffice.

To overcome these defenses, Ukraine has been developing and modifying its own weapons, including anti-ship missiles and long-range drones capable of carrying large warheads. These weapons have already been deployed to target Russian oil infrastructure, and Ukraine claims they can strike targets hundreds of miles away. This growing capability underscores Ukraine’s determination to continue its fight despite restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons inside Russian territory.

Recent strikes on Russian ammunition depots mark a crucial moment in the ongoing conflict, as Kyiv seeks to further erode Russia’s logistical capabilities and gain a tactical edge while limiting the ability for Moscow to make war on Ukrainian infrastructure. By disrupting the supply of ammunition, Ukraine hopes to weaken Russia’s overwhelming fire superiority on the battlefield, which has been a significant challenge throughout the war. The continued targeting of depots like those in Toropets and Tikhoretsk signals a shift in strategy that could amplify even further if specific restrictions are lifted on the use of western weaponry on Russian territory.