Fire Erupts in Tver Region Following Ukrainian Drone Strike

Thirteen individuals were injured in Russia’s Tver region following a significant drone attack attributed to Ukraine, as reported by the Russian health ministry. Early on Wednesday, explosions shook the area, with unverified video footage capturing massive blasts and billowing smoke filling the sky.

In response to the attack, a partial evacuation was ordered. However, regional officials later assured residents that the situation was under control and infrastructure was functioning normally, encouraging people to return home.

According to reports from AFP and Reuters, Ukrainian sources claimed the target was an ammunition depot. This military site, valued at approximately £30 million ($39 million), reportedly contained fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and explosives—items extensively used in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. NASA satellite imagery detected multiple heat sources from the site, indicating a substantial explosion. Interestingly, a minor earthquake was also recorded in the vicinity following the blasts.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, stated on Telegram that in addition to its own munitions, Russia has started storing North Korean missiles in Toropets, which lies around 380 kilometers (236 miles) northwest of Moscow and 470 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border. These claims have not been independently verified.

In recent months, Kyiv has increased its confidence and ambition regarding drone strikes within Russia, successfully targeting sites as far away as 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles). For instance, a long-range radar installation in the city of Orsk was previously hit.

On the night of the drone attack, Toropets authorities announced that evacuation buses were on standby, emphasizing that the situation was under control in the town of roughly 13,000 residents. However, the specific number of evacuees was not disclosed. Additionally, Russian state media reported that local schools and kindergartens would be closed in light of the attacks.

The damage inflicted in Toropets is expected to provide a morale boost to Ukrainian forces, while also sending a political message to Western allies: that striking targets within Russia is a legitimate form of self-defense for Ukraine and should not lead to further escalation.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry announced that it had intercepted a total of 54 drones during attacks across five regions: Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, and Belgorod. Reports from the Belgorod Region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed that four civilians were injured in a separate drone attack on a minibus in Shebekino.

On the Ukrainian side, air defense systems were engaged overnight against incoming Russian drones near Kyiv, as stated by city military administration head Serhiy Popko. In addition, blasts were reported in the northeastern city of Sumy, close to the Russian border, where local authorities claimed that 16 drones were shot down. However, backup power systems had to be activated due to repeated attacks on energy infrastructure.

In total, the Ukrainian air force reported successfully downing 46 of the 52 drones launched by Moscow during the overnight operations. Tragically, one person was killed in the central region of Kirovohrad, and a 90-year-old woman was injured in Kropyvnytskyi.

Both Russian and Ukrainian officials have not had their claims independently verified, adding to the complexity of the ongoing conflict. Since the full-scale invasion initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, the hostilities have resulted in significant casualties and destruction on both sides.

The recent drone attack in Tver underscores the evolving dynamics of this conflict, highlighting the increasing use of drone warfare as a strategic tool for both nations as they navigate this challenging and complex landscape.