In Russia’s Voronezh region, residents were evacuated following a suspected Ukrainian drone strike on an ammunition depot in the village of Soldatskoye, approximately 120 miles from the Ukrainian border. Social media posts depicted the aftermath of the attack, with videos capturing loud explosions that continued for hours.
Satellite imagery confirmed ongoing fires in the area, further supporting reports of significant destruction at the site. The attack is believed to have targeted a military storage facility.
Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev stated on Telegram that debris from a drone had caused the detonation of the ammunition depot, leading to the evacuation of nearby villages. However, he did not disclose the specific locations of the affected villages.
A state of emergency was declared in the Ostrogozhsky district, and damage assessments will be carried out once the situation is under control. Despite the severity of the explosions, Gusev reported no casualties, although Russian authorities are often cautious about fully disclosing the extent of such incidents.
Suspected Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Ammunition Depot in Russia’s Voronezh Region, Forcing Evacuations
While the Russian Defense Ministry did not directly mention the drone strike in Voronezh, it reported the downing of two drones in the neighboring Kursk and Belgorod regions.
Media outlet Nexta shared videos of the explosion at the Voronezh ammunition depot, highlighting that similar attacks had occurred in the region before. For instance, in August, a strike in the same district led to fires and explosions that lasted for nearly two days.
Ukraine has increasingly used drones to target Russian military and infrastructure sites, though it typically refrains from claiming responsibility. According to Ukrainian security expert Hanna Shelest, the improved capabilities of Ukraine’s drones have allowed for longer-range strikes, extending beyond the border to hit strategic Russian assets.
Recent Ukrainian drone strikes have aimed at oil processing plants and airfields, further weakening Moscow’s military operations.
At the same time, Russia continues its own military offensives against Ukraine, using missile and drone attacks. On the day of the Voronezh strike, a Russian Shahed-type drone’s debris was found near Ukraine’s parliament in Kyiv following an attack on the capital.
Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 58 out of 67 Russian drones, but the strikes still resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to 97, including children. These attacks reflect the ongoing escalation between the two countries.
