In a bold move, Ukrainian forces targeted a critical military site deep within Russia, sparking explosions and causing widespread damage.

Thirteen people have been injured in the Tver region after a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire in the town of Toropets. The attack, which occurred early Wednesday morning, hit an ammunitions depot reportedly housing fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other explosives.

Footage circulating online shows massive detonations and a large column of smoke covering the sky. Local authorities ordered a partial evacuation, preparing buses for residents, though the regional governor later reassured people that infrastructure was back to normal.

The scale of the attack is significant, as Ukrainian forces have been seeking to strike such targets with western-supplied missiles, though the absence of approval from the U.S. and U.K. has forced Ukraine to rely on domestically produced drones. Ukrainian sources suggest that the targeted arsenal was valued at nearly £30 million ($39 million) and stored Russian munitions alongside North Korean missiles, although these claims remain unverified.

The strike has not only disrupted a key supply point for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has also been detected from space by NASA due to the heat generated from the explosions. A minor earthquake was also reported in the surrounding region, highlighting the magnitude of the blast.

This latest drone attack, following months of intensified operations by Kyiv, signals Ukraine’s growing confidence in its long-range capabilities. Strikes like these send a powerful message to Moscow and the West—that Ukraine can and will target Russian military infrastructure while minimizing the risk of a wider escalation.

For Ukraine, this success brings not just strategic gains but also a morale boost, illustrating the ability to defend itself beyond its borders as the war grinds on.