Ukrainian drone strike cripples key Russian ammo depot
The head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, confirmed that the Russians are still experiencing the effects of the attack on the warehouses in the city of Toropets. In September last year, the warehouses were almost completely destroyed, leading to significant losses of ammunition for Putin's forces, including mortar shells, rockets, and North Korean ballistic missiles.
Maliuk revealed that the Russians lost a total of about 160,000 metric tonnes of ammunition. The most significant loss for Putin's forces involves the 120 mm calibre shells, as the 107th Arsenal of the Main Directorate of Missile and Artillery (GRAU) held roughly 50 percent of the entire Russian reserve of these shells. The Bulgarian Military portal describes these losses as a "devastating blow to the Kremlin's logistics," noting that the 120 mm calibre shells are "the backbone of the Russian artillery arsenal and a pillar of ground operations against Ukraine."
Effects of the attack on warehouses in the city of Toropiec
Ukrainian drones were used in the attack on the warehouses in the city of Toropets in the Tver region of western Russia. Numerous recordings showing massive explosions were published on social media. A few days after the incident, it was confirmed that the force of the explosions was so great that they caused a 2.8 magnitude earthquake. A subsequent analysis of satellite images showed that the warehouses attacked by the Ukrainians were almost leveled.
"Among the losses was half of all stocks of 120 mm calibre shells, which, if I may say, are like hotcakes for their troops," said Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, quoted by the Ukrainian portal Defense Express.
Ukrainian drones becoming increasingly dangerous
Gen. Vasyl Maliuk added that over the three years of the war, the Ukrainian army has gained invaluable combat experience with the use of drones. This applies to both surface and aerial drones, which are utilised not only on the front lines but also many kilometres away. The military revealed that the Ukrainian army categorizes its drones based on their operational range: 0–20 kilometres, 20–40 kilometres, 40–80 kilometres, 80–120 kilometres, and over 120 kilometres. The longest-range drones are primarily used for strikes on Russian territory.
Besides ammunition depots, Ukrainian attacks mainly target military airports and Russian refineries.
Russians reliant on supplies from North Korea
The prolonged war and the resulting consumption of ammunition, along with attacks like the one on the warehouses in Toropets, have led to a significant "ammunition shortage" for the Russians. Beyond their own reserves and current production, they have begun to rely heavily on assistance from their largest ally.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, stated that about 50 percent of the ammunition used by Putin's forces in the war with Ukraine comes from North Korea.
