Explosion rocks Russian ammo depot near Moscow, six injured
On Tuesday, April 22, a powerful explosion occurred near the village of Barsovo in Vladimir Oblast, just a few dozen miles from Moscow. This location houses one of the largest ammunition depots of the Russian Ministry of Defense—the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU).
The head of the Ukrainian government's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, reported that approximately 105,000 tons of weapons might have been stored on the GRAU premises. He added that among these were significant stocks of artillery shells and rockets of various types, including Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, ammunition for the Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan.
Explosion in the Russian weapons depot
The Defence Express service released recordings showing the explosion in the depot, which covers an area of approximately 1 square mile, along with secondary detonations. It explained that, considering the nature of the blast, it was probably the detonation of solid-fuel rockets, including anti-aircraft and/or ballistic missiles, as well as rockets for multiple-launch rocket systems, which may confirm Andriy Kovalenko's statements.
According to Russian media, the explosion resulted from a fire that broke out in a gunpowder shell warehouse, where about 25,000 units of ammunition were stored. Six people were injured in the blast, including four military personnel and one child. Initial reports suggested fatalities, but the Russian Ministry of Defense later denied these.
Some sources speculate that the explosion might have been the result of a deliberate attack, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory. Russian authorities have not yet identified any external causes of the explosion. It's worth noting, however, that the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate is located about 330 miles from the Ukrainian border. Theoretically, it remains within the range of Ukrainian drones such as the Rubaka, UJ-22 Airborne, or E-300 Enterprise. Additionally, in November 2024, there were explosions at the GRAU arsenal and at a drone manufacturing facility in the Belgorod and Novgorod Oblasts, which Ukrainian sources claim could have been the result of sabotage attacks.
Warehouses full of weapons
Although there are no official reports on the cause of the explosion yet, the loss of weapons mentioned by Andriy Kovalenko could be a significant setback for the Kremlin. Missile systems such as Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, and ammunition for the Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 air defense systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan rocket launchers, play a crucial role in Russia's military actions against Ukraine.
These elements are consistently used by Moscow for targeted strikes, to spread terror among civilians, and to weaken Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure. For instance, the Iskander system is a modern, mobile short-range ballistic missile complex capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. It is used by Russia for strategic strikes, destroying important targets with high precision, often from Russian territory.
The older but still-used Tochka-U, a tactical missile system with less accuracy but high destructive power, is employed in attacks where the mass application of missiles is crucial. Kinzhals, which Russia uses relatively infrequently, remain its technological flagship - hypersonic missiles capable of penetrating most missile defense systems are the pride of the Kremlin. However, their actual effectiveness is sometimes questioned.
Ammunition for air defense systems - Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 - is particularly significant in the context of increasing drone and rocket attacks on targets in Russia and occupied Ukraine. Their presence in the GRAU arsenal would suggest that the facility served as a strategic logistics hub. Grad, Smerch, and Uragan rocket launchers are used to shell Ukrainian positions on the front line - their firepower is immense, and the demand for ammunition remains high in the realities of positional warfare.
The destruction of even part of this arsenal would deal a severe blow to Russian logistical support. Additionally, in the context of a prolonged conflict and growing losses, each such incident affects not only operational capabilities but also the morale of the troops and public opinion. This is especially true if the explosion was not an accident but, as some unofficial sources suggest, could have been the result of sabotage.
