Ukraine wiped out months of Russian munitions by destroying 'impenetrable' ammo site

Russia's supposedly impenetrable ammunition arsenal has fallen victim to one of the most devastating drone strikes of the Ukrainian war - and the impact could last months, experts warn.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence, 100 drones were involved in the strike in Toropets, Russia, which caused 13 explosions, sparking a blast which carried the power of 200 tonnes of high explosives.

The blast could potentially be one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history, as powerful as a series of earthquakes. 

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The strike against the Russian ammunition arsenal at Toropets – 300 miles from the frontline – is expected to have a significant impact on the ongoing conflict in Russia.

Estonian military intelligence estimates that 30,000 tonnes of munitions were destroyed by the drone strike –  Russia fires an estimated 10,000 shells every week in Ukraine.

By that calculation, it is believed that the destruction at Toropets wiped out two to three months of ammunition. 

Ukrainian media say the attack was the most damaging airstrike on Russia since the Second World War. 

The site was built in 2018, and Russia's then deputy defence minister, Dmitry Bulgakov, described the highly fortified area as impenetrable against any attack, including a nuclear one.

Reportedly, Ukraine's security service, or SBU, believed the Toropets warehouse contained missiles, glide bombs and artillery ammunition. 

North Korean KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, Iskander, and Tochka-U ballistic missiles were also thought to have been stored there.

The Institute for the Study of War says the strike will affect Russian operations in the coming months, with experts predicting the attack will force Moscow to disperse its stockpiles to avoid them being targeted again.

Ukraine's campaign against Russia's ammunition depots has also included an attack against the border region of Bryansk – 200 miles behind the frontline.

Speculation has led some to believe Kyiv is using its new jet-powered weapon, the Palianytsia missile drone, for the attacks on these sites.

Four days after that attack, Ukraine also struck an ammunition stockpile at Tikhoretsk in southern Russia and destroyed 2,000 tonnes of ammunition, including more North Korean ordnance.

It seems clear that Ukraine is ramping up its own homegrown strike capability as the US and UK debate whether to allow Ukraine to use weapons like Storm Shadow and Atacms against targets inside Russia itself.