KYIV: Ukraine on Sunday claimed to have launched more than 100 drones deep inside Russian territory to hit a major ammunition depot in the Volgograd region, as Kyiv ups its attacks further inside Russian territory.
According to the Ukrainian military’s general staff, the Kotluban military depot, located hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border, was hit following reports of a recent shipment of Iranian weapons to the site.
The military’s Telegram post stated, “A fire and ammunition detonation were observed on the depot’s territory.”
While Russia has yet to confirm the specifics of the strike, it reported that its air defense systems had intercepted 67 drones over the Volgograd region during the same timeframe.
A Ukrainian defense source said that approximately 120 drones were deployed for the operation, traveling more than 600 kilometers (370 miles) to reach their target early on Sunday morning.
The source elaborated that damage to ammunition and missile storage facilities at the depot would likely result in a shortage of supplies for Russian forces operating in Ukraine.
Local reports from Volgograd indicated that debris from the drones caused grass fires, although the regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, confirmed there were no casualties or significant damage from the incident.
Residents described the drone attack as lasting around two hours, prompting some to evacuate their homes.
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This incident marks one of the largest Ukrainian drone offensives since President Vladimir Putin announced changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine last week, which included provisions for a nuclear response to extensive cross-border drone attacks.
Following the strike, Russian regional governors reported some damage, with Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev stating that drones had fallen on residential buildings, causing fires in two structures.
The Russian defense ministry said that a total of 125 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over various regions, including Rostov, Bryansk, and Kursk.
Moscow has intensified its air defense measures in recent weeks, claiming to shoot down Ukrainian drones almost daily in response to retaliatory strikes amid the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022.
