Ukrainian drones strike Russian ammo depots, disrupt supply chains

The Ukrainians attacked weapons and ammunition depots in the Bryansk region of western Russia. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russians stored missile rockets, North Korean artillery ammunition, and guided aerial bombs there.

"Last night, units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, accurately struck the 67th arsenal of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense located in the Bryansk region. Based on our information, ammunition for missiles and artillery was stored there, including supplies from the DPRK, as well as guided aerial bombs. A significant portion of them was stored in the open air," the Ukrainian General Staff stated on Telegram.

North Korea is Russia's largest ally, and the relationship between the two countries has been strengthening since the start of the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang supplies Russia with large quantities of artillery ammunition, primarily 122 mm and 152 mm caliber shells. This ammunition is very valuable for the Russians because they use it in their artillery systems.

Additionally, starting in early 2024, Pyongyang is supporting Russia with KN-23 ballistic missiles. This weapon has a large destructive force, with each missile being about 25 feet in length and featuring a warhead weighing about 1,102 pounds. It can strike targets at a distance of about 373 miles.

This is not the first such attack by Ukrainians recently. In September, they managed to destroy warehouses in Toropets in the Tver region of western Russia. Interestingly, the Russians stored not only their ammunition there but also some resources taken from North Korea. Satellite images released a few days after the attack showed that the warehouses in Toropets were almost literally leveled to the ground.

"The destruction of such arsenals creates serious logistical problems for the Russian army, which significantly reduces the offensive potential of the occupiers in threatened areas," assessed the Ukrainian General Staff.