Ukrainian drone sparks ammunition depot inferno in Western Russia
8:41 AM EDT, September 18, 2024
An attack by a Ukrainian drone caused a fire in the city of Toropets, located in the Tver region of western Russia. Igor Rudenia, the head of the Tver region authorities, conveyed this information on Wednesday. The fire and explosions occurred in 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 Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian air defense 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 began with the invasion in 2022. Ukrainians use various models of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles for these attacks. These include mainly solutions such as:
Tu-141 "Strizh" UAV, Tu-143 "Reis" UAV, UJ-22 "Airborne" drone, "Beaver" drone, and "Rubaka" drone.
Ukrainian drones, such as the Tu-141 "Strizh," can carry significant explosive loads over long distances. They reach up to 620 mph and range up to 620 miles. The Tu-143 "Reis" is a smaller, tactical drone for reconnaissance missions. It has speeds of 590 mph and a range of 112 miles.
UJ-22 "Airborne" is a modern unmanned air system developed by Ukraine. It is characterized by exceptional precision and the ability to carry various armaments. Its controlled flight range is 62 miles, and its autonomous range is 497.
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.
