Russia region orders evacuation after Ukraine drone attack | BBC News

Summary

A Ukrainian drone strike hit a large Russian ammunition warehouse near Moscow, causing massive fires and explosions. The attack, which targeted military supplies used in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, led to a partial evacuation in the town of Torpet. Ukraine's Security Service claims this as a significant military and political win, demonstrating its growing drone capabilities. Western allies have not yet authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles on Russian territory, though discussions continue. Ukraine continues drone attacks despite the lack of Western-supplied long-range weapons.

Takeaways

• 🚁 A Ukrainian drone hit a Russian ammunition warehouse near Belarus, Lithuania, and close to Moscow.
• 💥 The warehouse stored guided air missiles and other weapons used in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• 🔥 Footage shows large columns of smoke and fires following the attack, causing significant damage.
• 📍 The attack occurred nearly 500 km from the Ukraine border and close to Moscow, showcasing Ukraine's growing capability with long-range drones.
• 🇺🇦 For Ukraine, this attack is significant militarily and politically, boosting morale and sending a message to the West.
• 💣 The destroyed facility was worth nearly £30 million and stored fuel tanks, artillery shells, and ballistic missiles.
• 🌍 NASA reported seeing multiple heat sources from satellite imagery, indicating the power of the explosions.
• ⚠️ Ukraine’s drone attacks have increased in frequency and confidence over the past year, even without Western missiles.
• 🛑 Western allies have yet to permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles on Russian targets, though discussions are ongoing.
• 🗣️ Ukraine continues to push for Western support while demonstrating its ability to strike within Russia, using domestically-made drones if necessary.

Q & A

What was the target of the Ukrainian drone strike mentioned in the script?

The Ukrainian drone strike targeted a warehouse in Russia that was storing ammunition, including guided air missiles, in the Theair region near the Belarus border.

What was the significance of the location of this attack?

The warehouse hit by the drone was located close to Moscow, highlighting Ukraine’s ability to strike deep into Russian territory, which is a significant escalation in the conflict.

What types of weapons were stored in the warehouse that was attacked?

The warehouse contained a variety of weapons including guided air missiles, fuel tanks, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and other explosives used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

What was the immediate response from Russian authorities following the drone strike?

Russian authorities ordered a partial evacuation in the nearby western town of Torpet following the attack, suggesting the severity of the situation.

How did the attack affect the surrounding area?

The attack generated large plumes of smoke and fires. It also caused significant energy release, visible in NASA's satellite imagery and was strong enough to trigger a minor magnitude earthquake in the area.

What impact does this strike have on Ukraine's military and political goals?

Militarily, the strike boosts Ukrainian morale at a crucial time, while politically, it sends a message to the West, demonstrating Ukraine's ability to strike Russian targets, even without Western-supplied long-range missiles.

What has been Ukraine’s strategy regarding drone attacks over the past year?

Ukraine has increasingly ramped up drone attacks, using domestically made drones to strike long-range targets, gaining confidence and ambition with each successful operation.

Why is the West hesitant to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles?

The West, particularly allies like the UK, have concerns about escalating the conflict with Russia if Ukraine were to use Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory.

What might happen if the West decides to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine?

If the West approves, Ukraine would likely begin striking military air bases and other significant targets inside Russia. However, the announcement of such aid might come only after Ukraine conducts the strikes.

What is the alternative if Ukraine does not receive long-range missiles from the West?

Ukraine would continue using its domestically manufactured drones to strike Russian targets, but the scale of these attacks would be limited compared to what could be achieved with Western assistance.

Outlines

00:00

🚁 Ukrainian Drone Strike on Russian Ammunition Warehouse

A Ukrainian drone hit a warehouse in Russia's theair region, near the Belarus border, storing weapons like guided air missiles. The strike caused significant damage, leading to a partial evacuation in the western Russian town of Torpet. The attack is a part of Ukraine's growing confidence and ability to conduct long-range drone strikes.

🔥 Significant Damage from the Drone Attack

Footage shows large plumes of smoke and fires resulting from the drone strike on the warehouse, which stored fuel tanks, artillery shells, and ballistic missiles. NASA even detected heat sources from the blast, and a minor earthquake was reported in the area. The attack boosts Ukrainian morale and sends a political message to the West regarding its capacity to defend itself.

💬 Political Implications of the Attack

This attack emphasizes Ukraine's desire to strike deeper into Russia, a move that Ukraine wants to achieve with Western missiles. However, concerns of escalation have prevented Western allies from providing such weapons. The strike demonstrates that Ukraine will continue to carry out attacks using domestically produced drones if necessary.

🎯 Western Allies' Hesitation on Long-Range Missiles

There has been ongoing speculation about whether Western allies will allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia. Although discussions are taking place, no official announcement has been made. If the West decides to support Ukraine's efforts, it may confirm such actions after the fact, rather than through formal press releases.

🛰️ The Strategic Significance of Taking the War Deeper into Russia

Ukraine wants to strike military air bases and other key targets deep inside Russia, but needs Western missiles to do so effectively. Without them, it will rely on drones but will not be able to carry out the number of attacks it desires. The situation remains dynamic as Ukraine seeks to expand the scope of the conflict.

Keywords

💡Ukrainian drone

A drone operated by Ukrainian forces, used in the conflict against Russia. In the video, a Ukrainian drone hit a Russian warehouse storing ammunition, signaling the growing confidence and capability of Ukraine's drone operations. This is part of a broader strategy to strike important military targets deep inside Russia.

💡ammunition warehouse

A facility used to store military weapons, explosives, and other war materials. The video describes a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian ammunition warehouse, which stored missiles, artillery shells, and other explosive materials. The attack represents a significant blow to Russia's military logistics in its invasion of Ukraine.

💡Torpet

A town in Russia's western region where a partial evacuation was ordered following the Ukrainian drone strike. The mention of Torpet in the video illustrates the impact of the attack on Russian civilian areas and infrastructure, as large fires and explosions caused authorities to respond.

💡plumes of smoke

Large, visible clouds of smoke resulting from explosions or fires. In the video, plumes of smoke were observed after the Ukrainian drone strike on the ammunition warehouse. This visual evidence signifies the scale and intensity of the attack, and its destruction of Russian military assets.

💡NASA heat sources

Refers to satellite imagery detected by NASA showing intense heat spots after the explosion. The video highlights how even NASA reported seeing the heat from the explosion, indicating the magnitude of the blast and further underscoring the severity of the Ukrainian strike.

💡Ukraine's Security Service

The government agency responsible for national security in Ukraine. In the video, a source from Ukraine's Security Service confirmed the drone strike on the Russian ammunition warehouse. This organization plays a key role in coordinating intelligence and military operations in the ongoing conflict.

💡long-range missiles

Missiles capable of traveling long distances to strike targets deep within enemy territory. The video discusses Ukraine's desire to use long-range missiles supplied by Western allies to hit targets inside Russia, which remains a contentious issue as Western nations are cautious about escalating the conflict.

💡Western allies

Countries, particularly in Europe and North America, that support Ukraine through military, financial, or diplomatic means. The video touches on ongoing discussions between Ukraine's Western allies regarding permission to use long-range missiles to target Russian infrastructure, reflecting the geopolitical considerations at play in the conflict.

💡partial evacuation

The process of moving people out of an area due to a dangerous situation. After the Ukrainian drone attack on the ammunition warehouse, Russian authorities ordered a partial evacuation in the town of Torpet, which underscores the threat to civilian safety due to the military conflict.

💡escalation

An increase in the intensity or scope of the conflict, often through more severe military actions. The video discusses concerns among Western allies about allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles, fearing it might lead to an escalation of the war, potentially drawing in other nations or increasing retaliatory strikes by Russia.

Highlights

A Ukrainian drone hit a Russian ammunition warehouse near the Belarus border, close to Moscow.

The warehouse stored guided air missiles and other weapons, leading to a partial evacuation of the western town of Torpet.

Footage shows large columns of smoke from fires following the attack.

This marks a long-range attack, approximately 500 km from Ukraine’s border and just 200 km from Moscow.

The targeted military facility was worth nearly 30 million pounds and stored fuel tanks, artillery shells, and ballistic missiles.

The force of the blast was strong enough for NASA to report multiple heat sources from satellite imagery.

A minor earthquake was reported in the surrounding area, indicating the warehouses were full of explosive materials.

This attack boosts Ukrainian morale and sends a political message, showing Ukraine's growing confidence in using drones.

Ukraine has been seeking permission to use Western missiles for similar strikes but faces concerns over potential Russian escalation.

For Ukraine, this attack is seen as a defensive action that doesn't escalate the conflict.

The possibility of a Russian response with widespread missile attacks is anticipated following the strike.

Western allies, including discussions in Washington, have been hesitant to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia.

UK Prime Minister Stama’s visit to Washington raised speculation about Western permission for Ukraine’s missile use, but no announcement has been made yet.

Further discussions are expected at upcoming United Nations conferences.

If Western allies allow it, Ukraine may strike deeper inside Russia without a formal press release, but if not, it will continue with domestically made drones.

Transcripts

well let's move now to the latest on the

war in Ukraine the BBC understands that

overnight a Ukrainian drone hit a

warehouse storing ammunition in Russia

located in

theair region near the border with

Belarus and ltia and in close proximity

to the Russian Capital Moscow The Source

from the Ukraine's Security Service said

that weapons like guided air missiles

were stored in the deot following this

attack Russian authorities have ordered

a partial evacuation in the western town

of torpet footage shows large Columns of

smoke from fires in the distance you can

see that there our correspondent James

walterhouse is in keev uh James could

you just give us an overview of of what

we know about this

attack well it's a big deal I think

we've seen Ukraine ramp up these kind of

attacks over the past year really with

drones it makes domestically and it's

grown in confidence an ambition in doing

so this is a long range attack almost

500 km from the border with Ukraine only

a couple of hundred from Moscow itself

and we are talking about a large

military facility worth almost 30 uh

million pounds a series of warehouses

which store uh fuel tanks uh artillery

shells ballistic missiles and other

types of explosives these are all

ordinance used in Russia's continued

full-scale invasion of Ukraine and you

just need to look at the footage uh of

the apparent blast I mean we we are

talking about plumes of smoke and uh and

huge fires and and and the force uh to

match I mean it's the kind of energy

generated which caused NASA to report

seeing numerous heat sources from

satellite imagery uh a minor uh

magnitude earthquake was even reported

in the surrounding area which suggests

that these warehouses were full and I

think for Ukraine in a military sense it

boosts morale much needed at a much

needed time but it also allows it to

send a political message I think to the

West because these kind of strikes are

what Ukraine has wanted to do with

Western missiles but it doesn't have

permission to do so yet because of

concerns of a Russian escalation what we

are seeing in Tor pets for Ukraine is

simple as far as it's concerned it helps

us defend itself uh which is the

argument uh and it doesn't lead to an

escalation I think we will see some kind

of Russian response we often do with

widespread missile attacks but this is

certainly significant in the grand

scheme of things and James uh to your

point about those long range missiles

there has been so much speculation that

we could have heard something in the

last few weeks but right now as it

stands when it comes to Western allies

what are we hearing uh when it comes to

their their position on this on allowing

president zalinski to use longrange

missiles on targets inside

Russia well it's interesting I think

what we are hearing at the moment is

that discussions are ongoing you know

the UK prime minister SE stama was in

Washington last week we were told it

would be on the agenda there were media

reports suggesting something would be uh

announced and that hasn't happened there

are further uh conferences taking place

at the United Nations uh this week

uh but if you think about it I think

this kind of announcement won't come in

the force of a it come in the form of a

press release a press conference where

they will say look we've given the green

light we will now see Ukraine strike

targets deep inside Russia I suspect if

confidence does grow among Western

allies it will simply happen there will

be evidence of of for example military

air bases uh inside Russia being hit

which is what Ukraine wants to do and

you know I suspect the West will confirm

it after the fact if that happens

otherwise uh Ukraine I think will say

okay if you're not going to let us do it

we'll do it with drones we manufacture

domestically but of course it it won't

be able to carry carry out the number of

attacks it would like without the help

of the West uh behind it so these are

certainly interesting times as Ukraine

looks to try and take the war deeper

inside Russia all right James Waterhouse

there thank you for that update from

keev