New satellite image shows tremendous damage after one of Russia’s largest ammo depots exploded

• One in every of Russia’s largest ammunition depots exploded earlier within the week.

• Satellite tv for pc imagery captured on Thursday exhibits important harm on the web site northeast of Moscow.

• The picture seems to point out destroyed buildings and widespread scorched earth.

Satellite tv for pc imagery captured Thursday exhibits in depth harm at one in all Russia’s largest ammunition depots after it caught fire and exploded earlier within the week.

A picture taken by Planet Labs and obtained by Enterprise Insider reveals important destruction on the 51st Principal Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) Arsenal, an ammunition advanced situated northeast of Moscow within the Vladimir area, over 300 miles from the border with Ukraine. It is an enormous facility.

The overhead picture exhibits what seems to be destroyed buildings and scorched earth, per fires attributable to the preliminary and subsequent explosions that witnesses filmed Tuesday. The complete extent of the harm on the 51st GRAU is unclear, however plainly a big portion of the ability was affected.

The Russian protection ministry did not determine the ability by title in its assertion, however it stated {that a} hearth at an unnamed navy web site within the Vladimir area brought about ammunition to blow up in a warehouse. A number of individuals had been reportedly harm within the aftermath.

Russian state media stated a state of emergency was declared within the particular district the place the 51st GRAU is situated.

In an announcement posted to Telegram, the Russian ministry wrote: “The reason for the hearth is a violation of security necessities when working with explosive supplies.” It stated the incident can be investigated.

Within the aftermath of the blast, movies started to emerge on social media of what had been stated to be Russian munitions raining down on close by civilian areas.

Ukraine’s strategic communications middle described the ammunition facility as one in all Russia’s largest munitions arsenals. Andriy Kovalenko, the pinnacle of Kyiv’s Heart for Countering Disinformation, stated the positioning holds some 100,000 tons of weaponry, together with artillery shells and missiles. BI couldn’t independently confirm these particulars.

Russia has a historical past of accidents just like the one on the 51st GRAU. 4 individuals had been killed in June 2022 at this facility when ammunition exploded throughout unloading operations. And one other Russian ammo depot blew up twice in 2019.

Amid the continuing battle, Russia’s ammunition depots have additionally been high-value targets for Ukraine, which has used domestically produced missiles and drones to wage a really profitable deep-strike campaign towards its neighbor’s navy and vitality services.

Ukrainian forces attacked a number of Russian ammunition depots within the fall, demonstrating their lengthy attain and the obvious ineffectiveness of Moscow’s air defenses.

Learn the unique article on Business Insider