Voronezh under siege: Second drone strike forces evacuation
4:04 PM EDT, July 7, 2024
The authorities of the Voronezh region in Russia have imposed a state of emergency for the second time in two weeks. This measure is a result of an attack by Ukrainian drones on an ammunition depot in the Podgorensky district. The authorities have ordered the evacuation of nearby towns and closed a section of the highway. Exploding missile debris is destroying everything around, according to local Telegram channels.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the ammunition depot. They stated that the Russians stored surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, tank and artillery shells, and boxes of firearm ammunition over an area of approximately 97,000 square feet.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has remained silent about the explosion at the ammunition depot. Meanwhile, Governor Alexander Gusev confirmed that in the early hours of Sunday, at 3 a.m. Eastern Time, Ukrainian armed forces attacked the depot in the Podgorensky district.
Gusev added that air defense forces "destroyed several drones," but debris from the drones fell onto the ammunition depot, causing a fire, which was followed by the detonation of "explosive objects."
State of emergency and evacuation
Gusev assured that there are no casualties but admitted that debris from the "explosive objects" destroyed one house near the ammunition depot.
The situation proved so dangerous that residents of nearby towns were evacuated, and a section of the nearby highway was closed. A state of emergency was also declared in the region.
Local Telegram channels reported that exploding missiles damaged many nearby buildings, shattered windows, and tore up the asphalt on nearby roads.
This is yet another drone attack on an ammunition depot in this region bordering Ukraine. The previous attack took place on June 25.
Source: themoscowtimes.com, Telegram