- On 22 April 2025, Russia’s 51st GRAU munitions arsenal near Kirzhach, Vladimir oblast, approximately 80km east of Moscow, suffered multiple large explosive detonations. According to the Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation, the depot held approximately 105,000 tones of various munitions, including ballistic, air launched and air defence missiles, as well as artillery shells and small arms ammunition for frontline fighting.
- Satellite imagery (attached) indicates a significant portion of the depot, more than 1 sq km, was damaged by the detonations, suggesting massive losses at a key strategic depot supplying Russia’s war in Ukraine. Furthermore, fire-damaged, unstable, unexploded munitions may have landed outside of the facility, potentially posing danger to civilians in the vicinity.
- The Russian MOD stated that the explosions were due to a fire which then caused a munition detonation. It is highly likely that poor weapons handling procedures alongside negligent storage of munitions resulted in this loss. This is in keeping with a longstanding trend of regularly evidenced Russian ineptitude with regards the safe and proper handling of its own munitions.
- The 51st GRAU explosions likely resulted in the largest loss of Russian munitions caused by Russia’s own actions in the current conflict so far.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - May 14 2025.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 14, 2025
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