Ukraine War BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE Strikes on 2 More Russian Ammo Depots
Table of Contents 📖
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:30⏩
Jonathan kicks off with his usual enthusiastic "Hello Team" and reminds viewers that it's a Ukraine War Breaking News update, despite being a Saturday! He's even got a football match to get to. He dives straight into the recent attack on a massive ammunition depot in Toropets, Russia, which was engulfed in flames.
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Analysis of the previous Toropets Ammunition Depot Strike
🎦 00:30-01:54⏩
Jonathan highlights the incredible imagery analysis from the "Toshka" group showing the aftermath of the Toropets attack. They confirm the destruction of 46 ECMs (Electronic Countermeasures) bunkers, representing 74% of the total. He speculates that the remaining bunkers likely suffered heat damage. The scale of the destruction is emphasised, with Jonathan describing it as "massive" and highlighting the huge explosions, reported earthquakes (up to 2.8 on the Richter scale), and massive craters. He mentions rumours of 100 drones used in the attack and cites the Kyiv Independent and Estonian military intelligence suggesting the destruction of up to three months' worth of Russian ammunition.
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Overview of the latest drone attacks across Russia
🎦 01:54-02:53⏩
Jonathan reveals more massive strikes just a few nights after the first Toropets attack. He reports that Russia claims to have shot down 101 aircraft-type drones overnight, with explosions reported at ammunition depots. He breaks down the Russian claims, listing the number of drones allegedly shot down in various regions:
- Briansk: 53 drones
- Krasnodar: 18 drones
- Sea of Azov: 16 drones
- Kaluga: 5 drones
- Tver (including the second Toropets attack): 3 drones
- Belgorod: 2 drones
- Kursk, Smolensk, Crimean Peninsula: 1 drone each
Jonathan expresses scepticism about the Russian claims, suggesting the actual number of downed drones is uncertain. He then focuses on two specific sites hit by huge explosions.
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Analysis of the second Toropets Ammunition Depot Strike
🎦 02:53-07:54⏩
The first site is another ammunition depot near Toropets (referred to as "Toropets 2") in the Tver region. Jonathan notes its location in Oktobearsky, about 10 miles from the previously hit depot. He highlights NASA Firms data showing the entire facility on fire and speculates that this data might indicate the first Toropets site still burning days after the attack. Jonathan observes from satellite imagery that another ammunition depot is located close by, suggesting a systematic targeting approach by Ukraine. He cites reports that Ukrainian drones struck this second Toropets depot, causing massive explosions and visible clouds at night. Jonathan highlights the vulnerability of the site, with ammunition crates stored in the open air, making them easy targets for secondary explosions. He mentions speculation that the crates might contain S-300 or S-400 air defence missiles, which would be a significant blow to Russia's military capabilities, particularly for attacks on cities like Kharkiv. He notes a lack of detailed footage from the second Toropets attack due to its remote location but emphasises that NASA Firms data indicates significant damage, potentially on par with the first devastating attack. Jonathan highlights the large area of fire detected by NASA Firms data, suggesting extensive damage and questioning the safety of any remaining ammunition.
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Analysis of the Tikhoretsk Ammunition Depot Strike
🎦 07:54-13:51⏩
Next, Jonathan shifts focus to the Tikhoretsk ammunition depot in the Krasnodar Krai region, situated near the Sea of Azov and within relatively easy reach for Ukrainian drones. He emphasises the magnitude of the explosions, describing the footage as "phenomenal" and likening the mushroom clouds to "almost a nuclear blast type mushroom." He quotes Ilya Ponomarenko, a former Kyiv Independent journalist, who argues that this is how Russia will be forced to end its war: not through negotiations or appeasement, but through the systematic destruction of its military capacity. Jonathan points out that the White House had identified the Tikhoretsk facility as a storage site for North Korean munitions back in October 2023. He expresses amazement at the footage showing the destruction of these munitions by Ukrainian drones and cites a detailed analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) using Maxar satellite imagery confirming the presence of North Korean munitions at the site. Jonathan observes that the dense packing of the munitions would likely contribute to the massive explosions seen in the footage. He shares more footage from the attack, including secondary explosions continuing into the morning, creating a blanket of smoke over the area. Local reports attribute air raid alarms to debris and ammunition from the depot flying in all directions, including towards the city. Jonathan shows a video of a missile narrowly missing the person filming and causing an explosion nearby, highlighting the ongoing danger even after the initial attack.
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Significance of the attacks and speculation about Ukrainian capabilities
🎦 13:51-14:22⏩
Jonathan emphasises the success of these attacks for Ukraine, highlighting the confirmed destruction of substantial Russian ammunition stockpiles. The NASA Firms data, he says, leaves no doubt about the severity of the damage inflicted on the Russians. He questions whether these attacks constitute a turning point in the war, noting the change in Ukrainian tactics. Jonathan speculates on the reasons behind this shift:
- Have the Ukrainians acquired new, more capable drones?
- Have they simply increased their drone capacity, allowing for more drones to be deployed against each target?
He expresses a preference for concentrating drone attacks on fewer, higher-value targets like these ammunition depots, a tactic he's advocated for previously.
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Wrap Up
🎦 14:22-14:49⏩
Jonathan concludes by acknowledging he doesn't know the exact number of drones used but reiterates the Ukrainians' remarkable success. He encourages viewers to share their thoughts and signs off with his usual "Take care, toodlepips".
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"This is the way Russia will be forced to stop its war on Ukraine... This is the only way, and Ukraine is doing it right now." - Ilya Ponomarenko
