Attacks on Russian depots reveal how West helps Russia by blocking long-range strikes - ISW
Illustrative photo (getty images)
Recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian rear ammunition depots demonstrate the extent to which Russian military logistics still benefits from Western-provided cover, which protects the Russian rear, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Maxar has compiled satellite images that show significant damage to three major Russian ammunition depots in western and southwestern Russia following Ukrainian drone strikes.
The Oktyabrsky depot before the attack (photo: Maxar)
The Oktyabrsky depot after the attack (photo: Maxar)
The Tikhoretsk depot before the attack (photo: Maxar)
The Tikhoretsk depot after the attack (photo: Maxar)
The Toropets depot before the attack (photo: Maxar)
The Toropets depot after the attack (photo: Maxar)
Images of the damage at the depots in Oktyabrsky and Toropets in the Tver region and the Tikhoretsk depot in Krasnodar Krai reveal the destruction of dozens of ammunition storage buildings, railway cars likely used by Russian troops for transporting munitions, and large quantities of suspected missiles, canisters, and other materials that Russian forces left exposed. This congested placement of a large amount of material underscores the lack of operational security at Russian rear supply depots, demonstrating the degree of flexibility provided by Western restrictions that prohibit Ukraine from firing Western weapons at Russia. This flexibility has allowed Russia to optimize large rear facilities for the mass transfer of equipment into Ukraine, the Institute noted.
The continued use of well-known large-scale logistics by Russian military forces represents a significant vulnerability that Ukraine could exploit if Western countries lifted their restrictions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
It is worth noting that on the night of September 21, ammunition depots belonging to Russian troops in Krasnodar Krai and the Tver region were attacked.
According to RBC-Ukraine's sources, the attack on the depot in the Tver region was a special operation conducted by Ukrainian defenders, involving the Security Service of Ukraine, Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and Special Operations Forces. It has been confirmed that a missile-artillery control depot was hit, where the Russians stored missiles for the operational-tactical Iskander systems, KN23 ballistic missiles, missiles for the Tochka-U tactical missile systems, KABs, S-300s, and artillery ammunition.
The strike on the missile depot in Toropets in the Tver region marks an important achievement for Ukraine. There are only 13 such depots near Russia.
Estonian intelligence believes that due to the strike on the depot in Toropets, Russia has lost ammunition supplies sufficient for 2-3 months.
