UK intelligence says Ukrainian strikes on Russia's Tikhoretsk and Toropets will cause supply issues for Russian forces

Recent Ukrainian strikes on facilities in the Russian cities of Tikhoretsk and Toropets will almost certainly lead to at least short-term disruptions in the supply of the Russian Armed Forces.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 29 September on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: UK intelligence noted that Ukrainian forces had struck Russian ammunition depots in Tikhoretsk and another facility in Toropets, Tver Oblast, on the night of 20-21 September 2024 using drones. This strike follows a successful attack on a depot in Toropets on 18 September, which is believed to have destroyed at least 30,000 tonnes of ordnance stored both in open areas and bunkers.

"The strikes will almost certainly cause, at a minimum, short-term disruption to Russian artillery and small-arms munitions supplies, critical resources in a war of attrition dominated by mass fires," UK Defence Intelligence emphasised, noting that the total tonnage of ammunition destroyed at the three sites marks the largest loss of Russian and North Korean-supplied ammunition since the war began.

UK intelligence believes that these large-scale strikes, conducted in rapid succession, highlight that despite Russia's extensive multi-layered air defence system (including fighter jets) deployed around Ukraine, it is still struggling to counter Ukrainian UAVs used in deep strike operations on Russian territory.

"It is highly likely this will force further dispersals in the Russian logistics chain for fear of additional strikes, increasing the burden on an already stretched system," the update says.

Background: 

• Earlier, Estonia stated that Ukraine's successful airstrikes to destroy Russian military depots should begin to affect the situation in the war zone in October.
• UK intelligence had previously stated that the destruction of the huge Russian ammunition depot in Toropets would affect the operations of Russian forces, particularly in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

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