Explosion rocks Russian arms depot near Moscow, raises questions
On Tuesday, April 22, near the village of Barsovo in the Vladimir Oblast, just a few dozen kilometres outside of Moscow, a powerful explosion occurred. This location houses one of the largest ammunition depots of the Russian Ministry of Defence: the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU).
The head of the Ukrainian government's Centre for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, reported that approximately 105,000 tonnes of weapons might have been stored at the GRAU. Among these were significant supplies of artillery shells and various types of missiles, including "Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, ammunition for Pantsir-S1, S-300, S-400 systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan."
Explosion in a Russian arms depot
The Defence Express service noted footage showing the explosion in the warehouse, which has an approximate area of 3.6 square kilometres, as well as secondary detonations. According to their explanation, "given the nature of the explosion, it likely involved the detonation of solid-propellant missiles, including anti-aircraft and/or ballistic missiles, as well as rockets for multiple launch rocket systems," potentially confirming Andriy Kovalenko's statement.
According to Russian media reports, the explosion resulted from a fire that broke out in a gunpowder storage facility where about 25,000 rounds of ammunition were stored. Six people were injured due to the explosion, including four military personnel and one child. Initial reports of fatalities were later denied by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Some sources suggest that the explosion might have been the result of a deliberate attack, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory. Russian authorities have not identified any external causes of the explosion thus far. It is worth noting, however, that the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate is located about 530 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. Theoretically, it falls within the range of Ukrainian drones. Furthermore, earlier in November 2024, there were explosions at the GRAU arsenal and a drone manufacturing plant in the Belgorod and Novgorod regions, which, according to Ukrainian sources, could have been the result of sabotage attacks.
Warehouses full of weapons
Although there are currently no official reports on the causes of the explosion or the exact extent of the damage at the GRAU warehouse, the loss of any missiles can be significant for the Kremlin. This is especially true as Russian missile weapon systems, such as Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, and ammunition for the Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 air defence systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan rocket launchers, play a crucial role in Russia's military actions against Ukraine.
These weapons are consistently used by Moscow to deliver precise strikes, spread terror among the civilian population, and weaken Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure. For example, the Iskander system, a modern, mobile short-range ballistic missile complex capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads, is used by the Russians for strategic strikes. These strikes destroy important targets with high precision, often from Russian territory.
The older but still used Tochka-U, a tactical missile system with less accuracy but significant destructive power, is employed in attacks where the massive deployment of rockets matters. Kinzhals, which Russia uses relatively infrequently, remain its technological showcase. These hypersonic missiles are capable of breaching most missile defence systems and are the pride of the Kremlin, although their actual effectiveness is sometimes questioned.
Ammunition for air defence systems—Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400—is particularly important in the context of increasing drone and missile attacks on targets in Russia and occupied Ukraine. Their presence in the GRAU arsenal suggests that this facility served as a strategic logistics centre. On the other hand, Grad, Smerch, and Uragan are rocket launchers used to shell Ukrainian positions on the front—their firepower is enormous, and demand for their ammunition remains high in positional warfare scenarios.
The destruction of even part of this arsenal would be a severe blow to Russia's logistical support. Additionally, in the face of a prolonged conflict and increasing losses, any such event affects not only operational capabilities but also the morale of the troops and public opinion. This is particularly true if the explosion was not an ordinary accident but—as some unofficial sources suggest—could have been the result of sabotage.
