The explosion as a result of the strike on the ammunition depot in Toropets, Tver region, was equivalent to a small earthquake.
The UK Ministry of Defence reported this on the social network X.
Explosion in Toropets: equivalent to an earthquake
As noted in the report, the strategic ammunition depot in Toropets, which was hit on the night of September 18, is located 500 km from Ukraine.
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It was one of the largest depots in Russia and contained more than 30 thousand tons of shells.
According to British intelligence, the cause of the damage to the 107th arsenal of the GRAU (the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry) was improper storage of ammunition.
In 2018, the depot was modernized after several incidents with explosions. One such explosion occurred in June 2011 in Pugachevo (Udmurtia) and resulted in damage to 3,000 houses and the evacuation of 30,000 people.
The British Ministry of Defence explains that improper storage of ammunition caused a chain reaction of cascading detonations in the bunker system, which led to huge losses of shells.
— The explosion in Toropets measured 2.7 on the Richter scale, equivalent to a light earthquake, and fires engulfed an area 6 km wide, — the report says.
Intelligence adds that while the loss is part of a wider supply network, it is likely to disrupt Russia's ground operations, particularly in the Kursk region.
ICTV Fakty previously reported that an explosion occurred at an ammunition depot in the city of Toropets in the Tver region of the Russian Federation on the night of September 18.
It was attacked by drones of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, and the Special Operations Forces.
The Russians stored Iskander and Tochka-U missiles there, as well as guided air bombs (KABs) and artillery ammunition.
