Russian ammo depot explosion: Massive loss strains military
On Tuesday, April 22, near the village of Barsovo in the Vladimir Oblast, just a few dozen miles from Moscow, a powerful explosion occurred. This is where one of the largest ammunition depots of the Russian Ministry of Defense is located – the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU).
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Ukrainian government's Center for Counteracting Disinformation, reported that approximately 115,000 tons of weapons might have been stored at the GRAU site. He added that these stockpiles included significant amounts of artillery and missile munitions of various types, such as "Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, ammunition for Pantsir-S1, S-300, S-400 systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan."
Explosion in the Russian weapons depot
The Defence Express service highlighted recordings showing the explosion in the depot, which covers an area of about 1 square mile, along with secondary detonations. They explained that "given the nature of the explosion, it likely involved the detonation of solid-propellant missiles, including anti-aircraft and/or ballistic missiles, as well as rockets for multiple launch rocket systems," which may corroborate Andriy Kovalenko's statements.
According to Russian media reports, the explosion was caused by a fire in the gunpowder cartridges warehouse, where about 25,000 units of ammunition were stored. Six people were injured in the explosion, including four military personnel and one child. Initial reports mentioned fatalities, but these were later denied by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Some sources suggest that the explosion might have been the result of a deliberate attack, but there is no conclusive evidence supporting this theory. Russian authorities have not yet pointed to any external causes for the explosion. However, it's worth noting 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 Rubaka, UJ-22 Airborne, or E-300 Enterprise. Moreover, previously, in November 2024, explosions occurred at the GRAU arsenal and a drone production plant in the Belgorod and Novgorod Oblasts, which, according to Ukrainian sources, could have been due to sabotage.
Warehouses full of weapons
Although there are currently no official reports on the causes of the explosion, the loss of the weapons mentioned by Andriy Kovalenko could be significant for the Kremlin. Missile weapon systems, such as Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, or ammunition for Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 air defense systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan missile launchers, are crucial in Russia's military operations against Ukraine.
These elements are consistently used by Moscow to deliver precise strikes, spread terror among the civilian population, and weaken Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure. For example, the Iskander system is a modern, mobile short-range ballistic missile complex capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads, which the Russians use for strategic strikes – destroying important targets with high precision, often from Russian territory.
The older yet still used Tochka-U, a tactical missile system with lower accuracy but high impact power, is utilized in attacks where the mass deployment of missiles matters. Kinzhal missiles, used infrequently by Russia, remain a technological showpiece – hypersonic missiles capable of breaking through most missile defense systems are a point of pride for the Kremlin, although their effectiveness is sometimes questioned.
Ammunition for air defense systems – Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 – is particularly important in light of increasing drone and missile attacks on targets within Russia and occupied Ukraine. Their presence in the GRAU arsenal indicates that this facility served as a strategic logistics center. Meanwhile, Grad, Smerch, and Uragan are rocket launchers used for shelling Ukrainian positions on the front – their firepower is formidable, and the demand for ammunition remains high in trench warfare.
The destruction of even part of this arsenal would deal a severe blow to Russian logistics support. Additionally, amid a prolonged conflict and growing losses, each such incident impacts not only operational capabilities but also troop morale and public opinion. This is especially true if the explosion was not a mere accident but, as some unofficial sources suggest, the result of sabotage.
