Strikes on ammunition depots in Russia could affect entire theater of operations - ISW
Ukraine could change the course of offensive operations by detonating warehouses in Russia (photo: Russian media)
Strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on rear logistics facilities within Russian territory are expected to exert a far broader operational pressure on Russian military forces, extending beyond merely the destruction of munitions and logistical sites, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report highlights that during the summer of 2022, Ukrainian forces launched a series of strikes using HIMARS rocket systems on Russian munitions depots in temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. This forced the Russian army to disperse its munitions storage, reducing the effectiveness of the enemy's logistics at that time.
ISW does not rule out that similar strikes by Ukrainian Defense Forces on munitions depots within Russian territory, akin to the attack in Toropets, could compel Russian military command to implement similar measures for reorganizing and dispersing support and logistics systems to mitigate the impact of such attacks.
“Russian forces may not have addressed vulnerabilities at many logistics facilities within Russia due to the sanctuary space that restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-provided weapons have generated, although the Toropets facility is not within range of Western systems fired from Ukraine,” the report states.
The Institute is convinced that further strikes by the Ukrainian army on Russian munitions and missile depots could destroy a significant portion of Russian material reserves.
“Ukrainian strikes against facilities within Russia could impact offensive operations throughout the theater in Ukraine if Ukrainian forces have the materiel, capabilities, and permission to conduct such a strike campaign against logistics and support facilities within Russia at scale,” ISW analysts conclude.
Strikes on ammunition depots in Russian territory
In recent months, Ukrainian special forces and military units have intensified regular drone and missile attacks on munitions depots and other targets both in occupied areas of Ukraine and within Russian territory.
On the night of September 18, Ukrainian forces struck an ammunition arsenal in the city of Toropets, Tver Region, Russia. The depot housed Iskander and Tochka-U ballistic missiles, as well as North Korean-made KN-23 rockets.
Following the explosion, likely caused by a drone strike, a major fire broke out at the depot, resulting in the detonation of munitions. This is expected to temporarily disrupt the enemy's combat capabilities.
Additionally, in July 2024, Ukrainian forces targeted an ammunition depot near the village of Sergeyevka in the Voronezh region.
Another munitions depot was destroyed in the Podgorensky district of the Voronezh region.
Moreover, on the night of September 17, Ukrainian forces destroyed a large munitions depot belonging to Russian forces near the occupied city of Mariupol. The strike was carried out with Ukrainian Neptune missiles.
