Ukrainian Drone Strike Causes Massive Explosion at Arsenal in Russia’s Tver Region

A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Wednesday triggered a massive explosion at a major arsenal in Russia’s Tver region, creating a blast felt like an earthquake and prompting the evacuation of the nearby town of Toropets.
Social media showed dramatic footage of a fireball rising high into the night sky, with multiple detonations audible across a lake approximately 380 km (240 miles) west of Moscow. NASA satellites detected intense heat over a 14 square kilometer area, and earthquake monitoring stations recorded what appeared to be a small tremor.
Pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka reported that the drone strike hit an ammunition depot, stating, “Everything that can burn is already burning there.” While Russian state media, now under military censorship, provided limited coverage, Tver region Governor Igor Rudenya confirmed that drones had been shot down, a fire erupted, and some residents were evacuated.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions, and some evacuees expressed concern about the condition of their homes. Rudenya later assured that the situation was stable and residents could return, noting no fatalities had been recorded.
According to a source in Ukraine’s SBU state security service, the attack reportedly destroyed a warehouse containing missiles, guided bombs, and artillery ammunition, although the Ukrainian government did not comment on the incident.
In the aftermath, social media chat groups reflected anger and confusion among Russian citizens, questioning why such a significant arsenal was not better protected. Russian air defense claimed to have intercepted 54 drones across five regions that night, while Ukraine reported downing 46 of 52 Russian drones launched in retaliation.