Explosion in Russian weapons depot fuels sabotage theories
On Tuesday, 22 April, near the village of Barsovo in the Vladimir Oblast, just a few dozen miles outside Moscow, a powerful explosion occurred. This is where one of the largest ammunition depots of the Russian Ministry of Defence is located - 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 around 95,000 metric tonnes of munitions 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 covers 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," which may support 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. As a result of the explosion, six people were injured, including four military personnel and a child. Initially, there were reports of fatalities, but these were later denied by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Some sources suggest that the explosion could have been the result of a deliberate attack, but there is no conclusive evidence to confirm this theory. Russian authorities have not attributed the explosion to any external causes so 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 remains 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 painful for the Kremlin. Especially since Russian missile weapon systems, such as Iskander, Tochka-U, Kinzhal, or ammunition for the Pantsir-S1, S-300, and S-400 air defence systems, as well as Grad, Smerch, and Uragan rocket launchers, play a key role in Russia's military actions against Ukraine.
These are elements that Moscow consistently uses 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 - destroying 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 deployed in attacks where massive application of rockets matters. Kinzhals, which Russia uses relatively rarely, remain its technological showcase – hypersonic missiles capable of breaching most missile defence systems 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 would suggest 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 the demand for ammunition remains high in the realities of positional warfare.
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. Even more so if the explosion was not an ordinary accident, but – as some unofficial sources suggest – could have been the result of sabotage.
