Residents in Russia’s Voronezh region had to evacuate after what is believed to be a Ukrainian drone strike hit an ammunition depot, as social media buzzed with images of the resulting fire.
According to the Astra Telegram channel, the attack occurred at an ammunition storage site in Soldatskoye, located roughly 120 miles from the Ukrainian border. Videos on social media captured sounds of the blasts, with reports of secondary explosions continuing for hours, while satellite images showed flames engulfing the area.
On Saturday, Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev announced on Telegram that debris from the drone had detonated the site. He confirmed that residents from several nearby villages would be evacuated, although he did not specify which ones.
Screen grab via social media
Gusev stated that the drone in question had been “detected and suppressed” in the Ostrogozhsky district, where a state of emergency has been declared. He mentioned that a damage assessment would take place once the aftermath of the incident was fully addressed. Thankfully, no casualties were reported, although Russian officials have a reputation for minimizing the effects of such strikes.
Ammunition depot near the Russian city of Voronezh explodes after a drone strike. Authorities evacuate several villages
Russian Defense Ministry did not report the destruction of drones in the Voronezh region. It only reported the downing of drones in the Kursk and Belgorod… pic.twitter.com/x3l8Wt8wOC
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 7, 2024
This incident is reminiscent of a similar event reported by Gusev in August, where drone attacks in the Ostrogozhsky area resulted in fires and explosions lasting nearly two days, believed also to have originated from a strike on an ammunition depot.
Ukraine has escalated its drone operations targeting military and infrastructure sites within Russia, often without officially claiming responsibility. The targets typically include oil processing facilities and airfields, which are critical for Moscow’s military operations. As Hanna Shelest, director of security programs at the Foreign Policy Council, Ukrainian Prism noted, “We are also improving our drones.”
On the flip side, Russia continues its missile strikes on Ukraine, with reports of drone debris found near the Ukrainian parliament after an attack in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 58 of the 67 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, amidst continuing strikes that resulted in at least four deaths and 97 injuries across the country, including among children.