Ukraine confirms drone strike on Russian ammo depot in Voronezh

Kyiv admitted to attacking an ammunition depot in Russia near Ostrogozhsk in the Voronezh region. "The facility stored artillery and tank shells of the occupiers, bullets, and surface-to-air missiles. In total, over 5,500 tons of ammunition. Detonations are still ongoing," the statement reads.

The attack was carried out during the night from Friday to Saturday. Local media reported that a Ukrainian drone struck the Russian ammunition depot in Ostrogozhsk in the Voronezh region. There was an explosion and a fire.

At noon on Saturday, Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that it was responsible for the attack.

"The facility stored artillery and tank shells of the occupiers, bullets for firearms, and surface-to-air missiles. In total, over 5,500 tons of ammunition. Detonations are still ongoing," the statement reads.

The Russian section of the BBC notes that, on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, that Ukraine used the new Palianyca rocket drone for the first time.

"This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy has been defeated. I thank everyone who made it possible. All developers, manufacturers and our soldiers. I am proud of you. It will be challenging for Russia, and it will be even more difficult to say exactly what [missile or drone] struck. It is difficult to counteract but very easy to understand why [it was launched]," informed the president.

He neither confirmed nor denied that it was the new drone that struck the ammunition depot.

Radio Free Europe posted satellite images showing the scale of the destruction after the explosions at the ammunition depot. Dense smoke can be clearly seen rising over the buildings.

Before 3:00 AM local time (8:00 PM ET), Alexander Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region, announced on Telegram that air defense forces had destroyed several "kamikaze drones. " However, the falling fragments of the downed machines caused a fire, which led to the detonation at the ammunition depot. Authorities declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of about 200 people.

According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, seven drones were shot down over the regions of Voronezh, Belgorod, and Bryansk.