Ukraine’s military conducted a drone strike on a major Russian ammunition depot in the Bryansk region overnight, marking the latest in a series of strikes targeting Moscow’s munitions stockpiles. Ukrainian forces confirmed the attack on Wednesday, stating that the depot stored missiles, artillery shells, and glide bombs, including some munitions allegedly supplied by North Korea.
The strike, carried out by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, reportedly caused significant damage to the 67th Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate near the town of Karachev, close to the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian military officials said the depot contained a large cache of weaponry, much of which was stored outdoors, making it vulnerable to the drone assault. The strike aims to create logistical difficulties for the Russian army, which Ukraine says will reduce Russia’s offensive capabilities.
Authorities in Russia’s Bryansk region declared a state of emergency following the attack. The local branch of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry confirmed detonations of explosive materials but did not explicitly mention the arms depot. Bryansk’s regional governor, Alexander Bogomaz, said Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 24 drones overnight, though the extent of the damage to the depot remains unclear.
Footage circulating on social media showed multiple explosions at the site, but independent verification of the video’s authenticity is still pending. The Russian defense ministry has not commented on the strike’s impact.
This drone strike is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian ammunition depots since September, using domestically produced long-range drones. These attacks have exposed gaps in Russia’s air defense network, as several strikes have successfully hit critical munitions stores. Western intelligence suggests that the disruption to Russian munitions supplies could have long-term effects on the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s deep strikes have been crucial in the conflict, as Kyiv has faced restrictions from its Western allies on using their missile systems to attack targets within Russian territory. The country has relied heavily on its homegrown drones to carry out such operations, and the Unmanned Systems Forces unit, established over the summer, has played a pivotal role in these efforts.
The attack on the Bryansk depot follows recent reports that North Korea may be supplying Russia with arms, a claim both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied. Ukraine’s military specifically pointed to North Korean munitions at the site, further fueling accusations of an arms partnership between the two countries. The strike also coincided with reports from South Korea that North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
BREAKING:
A Ukrainian drone swarm has hit a huge Russian weapons depot in Karachev in the Bryansk region of Russia, setting it all on fire.
Frequent secondary explosions can heard, indicating not much will remain of the depot
North Korean ballistic missiles were stored there pic.twitter.com/hqjEuoquc0
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 9, 2024
It was bound to happen and now it did. The 67th GRAU arsenal in Karachev, Bryansk region, in Russia has been struck. Countless of secondary explosions can be heard.
This major Russian ammunition site is only around 120 km (70 miles) from the Ukrainian border. pic.twitter.com/ZSn5WiJms4
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) October 9, 2024
Expanded Coverage:
