A Ukrainian drone strike has caused a fire and prompted partial evacuations in the Russian region of Tver.
Drone Parts Spark Fire
According to Russian officials and Ziare, the attack occurred overnight on Wednesday, targeting multiple western regions of Russia.
The strike, part of a broader wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, led to significant damage in Toropets, a small city located northwest of Moscow. Tver Governor Igor Rudenya announced the incident through Telegram, confirming that the remains of a downed Ukrainian drone had sparked the fire.
Local fire services are working to contain the blaze, although details about the nature of what is burning were not immediately released.
Rudenya described the ongoing efforts by Russian air defense units to fend off what he called a "massive drone attack." Despite efforts to repel the attack, some damage was reported in Toropets.
Aimed at Energy and Transportation
Toropets, a town of around 11,000 residents, is home to an arsenal used for storing missiles and explosives, according to a 2018 report by Russia’s state news agency, RIA.
Although the extent of the damage is unclear, the town's strategic importance may have made it a target for Ukrainian forces.
In addition to the attack on Tver, officials from other Russian regions also reported drone strikes. Seven drones were destroyed in the Smolensk region, which borders Belarus, while 14 more were downed over the Bryansk region near Ukraine. Other strikes were intercepted over the Oryol and Tula regions.
Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russian territory, particularly since increasing its domestic drone production. While Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the recent strikes, Kyiv has stated that its attacks are aimed at Russian military, energy, and transportation infrastructure essential for Moscow's war efforts.
