Shocking explosion at Russian weapons depot

Reuters on September 18 quoted a source from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as saying that Ukrainian forces used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack and destroy a warehouse containing missiles, guided bombs and artillery shells in Tver province, northwest of Moscow region.

Image believed to be of explosion at Tver arsenal

The UAVs caused a huge explosion at a large warehouse of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry in the town of Toropets. According to the source, the warehouse contained Iskander tactical missiles, Tochka-U tactical missiles, guided air-dropped bombs and artillery shells.

The attack caused a fire that spread 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) and firefighters are trying to control it. According to Newsweek , videos circulating on social media showed a huge fireball rising from Toropets, about 300 miles (482 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border, followed by smaller explosions nearby.

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NASA satellites recorded a huge heat source emanating from an area of about 14 ^square kilometers in the above-mentioned region early on September 18, while seismic observation stations collected data that sensors felt like a small earthquake.

A giant mushroom-shaped column of black smoke is believed to have risen from the explosion in Tver.

Governor Igor Rudenya approved the partial evacuation of Toporets, a town of 11,000 people northwest of Moscow. Russian air defenses are still fending off a large drone attack in the skies above Toporets, while other forces are working to extinguish a fire where the drone debris fell.

In 2018, then-Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov said a missile and explosives storage facility would be built in the town of Toropets, but it was unclear whether the facility would be affected. "It is a concrete facility that will ensure safe and reliable storage, protection against air and missile strikes, and even partial nuclear explosions," Bulgakov said at the time.

Explosion in Toropets early on September 18

As of noon on September 18 (local time), Mr. Rudenya said that the situation in Torpets had stabilized and people could return home. The fire was extinguished and no casualties were recorded.

However, Russian Assistant Health Minister Alexey Kuznetsov said 13 people injured in the Ukrainian drone attack in Tver were hospitalized and their injuries were assessed as moderate. Another 15 people were being examined by doctors.

Panoramic view of the weapons depot in Toropets, Tver province before the explosion on September 18.

Satellite images show the railway at the arsenal before and after the explosion. PHOTO: REUTERS

On September 18, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had shot down 54 Ukrainian drones overnight in five provinces. One drone hit a bus in the border city of Shebekino (Belgorod province), injuring four people, said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reported shooting down 46 out of 52 UAVs launched by Russia during the night. In addition, Russia is said to have launched 3 more guided missiles but they did not hit their targets.

Satellite images taken before and after the explosion at an ammunition depot in Toropets, Tver province (Russia). PHOTO: REUTERS

Russia, Ukraine declare conflict over Kursk

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on September 18 that its troops continued their offensive in Kursk province and repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks during the day. Russia captured eight Ukrainian soldiers, destroyed two pontoon bridges and many other weapons.

Major General Apty Alaudinov, commander of Russia's Akhmat special forces, told TASS that Ukraine is trying to hold its positions but is failing while Russia is advancing every day.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Ukrainian military government established in Kursk Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky said the Russian counterattack in the province had been stopped, according to AFP.

"The situation has stabilized and today everything is under control. They did not succeed," Mr Dmytrashkivsky said, adding that there were still thousands of civilians in areas controlled by Ukraine.

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The official said that civilians were not allowed to leave because the situation had to be controlled, but they could live in the area. Food was being brought in from Ukraine’s Sumy region every week and no shops or pharmacies were operating. He also said that 23 civilians had been killed in attacks to retake Russian territory since late August.

A Ukrainian military official admitted Russia had entered one settlement and was fighting in another but "that was it".

Russia has not commented on the above information.

Ukraine increases defense spending

On September 18, the Ukrainian parliament amended the 2024 budget, increasing defense spending by 500 billion hryvnia ($12 billion), according to Reuters.

Holos party lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said total budget spending for this year had risen to a record 3.73 trillion hryvnia ($90 billion).

"This will not only allow better support for the army, but also strengthen the country's defense capabilities," Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said after the vote.

Mr Umerov said that 274.4 billion hryvnia would be used to pay soldiers' salaries and other payments to their families. 76.2 billion hryvnia would be used to buy equipment to modernize the army.

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With the army having to defend more than 1,000 km of frontline, the demand for ammunition and weapons is increasing and more money is needed.

Ukraine has also accelerated its military mobilization and needs more money to pay its soldiers, with no sign of an end to the conflict with Russia. On September 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase the size of the Russian army.

Ukraine spends the bulk of its state revenue to fund its defense sector and relies on financial aid from Western partners to pay pensions, public sector wages and other social spending.

The head of parliament's budget committee, Roksolana Pidlasa, said Kyiv's daily war costs were around $140 million, but she did not give details of the costs.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-su-ukraine-ngay-938-chan-dong-vu-no-kho-vu-khi-nga-18524091816550694.htm