Ukrainian drone strike leaves Russian ammo depots in ruins
The head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Gen. Vasyl Maliuk, confirmed that the Russians are still feeling the effects of the attack on the warehouses in the city of Toropets. These warehouses were almost completely leveled to the ground last September, causing a significant loss in ammunition reserves for Putin's army, including mortar shells, rockets, and North Korean ballistic missiles.
Maliuk revealed that the Russians lost approximately 176,000 short tons of ammunition. The most painful losses for Putin's army involve the 120 mm caliber shells, as the 107th Arsenal of the Main Directorate of Missile and Artillery (GRAU) held about 50 percent of Russia's reserve of these types of shells. The Bulgarian Military portal describes the losses as a "devastating blow to the Kremlin's logistics," noting that 120 mm caliber shells are "the backbone of the Russian artillery arsenal and a pillar of ground operations against Ukraine."
Effects of the attack on the 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. Subsequent satellite image analyses revealed that the warehouses attacked by the Ukrainians were nearly leveled.
"Among the losses was half of all stocks of 120 mm caliber 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 course of the war, the Ukrainian army has gained invaluable combat experience in the use of drones. This includes both surface and aerial drones, which are deployed not only on the front lines but also at greater distances. The military revealed that the Ukrainian army categorizes its drones based on their operational range: 0–12 miles, 12–25 miles, 25–50 miles, 50–75 miles, and 75+ miles. 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 the city of Toropets, have caused the Russians to experience an "ammunition shortage." 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 as much as 50 percent of the ammunition used by Putin's army in the war with Ukraine comes from North Korea.
