Ukrainian drone incursion ignites ammunition depot fire in Russia
An attack by a Ukrainian drone caused a fire in the city of Toropets, located in the Tver region in western Russia. Igor Rudenia, the head of the Tver region authorities, conveyed this information on Wednesday. The fire and explosions occurred at an ammunition depot, as reported by Ukrainian media.
Igor Rudenia stated that an evacuation was ordered for parts of the city where the firefighting operation was ongoing. The portal "Ukrainska Pravda," citing accounts from residents of Toropets, confirms that the attacked site was an ammunition depot. A video has circulated online in which explosions can be heard and a fire can be seen.
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that in the early hours of Wednesday, Russian air defence forces neutralized 54 Ukrainian drones.
Half of the drones were shot down over the Kursk region - the ministry said. The remaining drones were destroyed over the regions of Bryansk (16), Smolensk (7), Belgorod (3), and Orel (1).
Kyiv's response to Russian aggression
Kyiv claims that attacks on Russian military, transportation, and energy infrastructure are in response to systematic Russian attacks on Ukraine, which started with the invasion in 2022. Ukrainians use, among other things, various models of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles for the attacks. This category includes primarily solutions such as:
Tu-141 "Strizh" UAV, Tu-143 "Reis" UAV, UJ-22 "Airborne" drone, "Beaver" drone, "Rubaka" drone.
Ukrainian drones, such as the Tu-141 "Strizh," can carry significant explosive loads over long distances. They reach speeds of up to 1000 km/h and a range of up to 1000 km. The Tu-143 "Reis" is a smaller, tactical drone used for reconnaissance missions with speeds of 950 km/h and a range of 180 km.
UJ-22 "Airborne" is a modern unmanned air system developed by Ukraine, characterized by exceptional precision and the ability to carry various armaments. Its controlled flight range is 100 km, and its autonomous range is up to 800 km.
The "Beaver" drone employs advanced stealth technologies to reduce its detectability. The "Rubaka" is a versatile drone with a wide range of applications, including combat and logistical purposes.
