Just 60 kilometers from Moscow, a major ammunition storage base — the 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation — exploded. This is one of the same GRAU arsenals that Ukraine successfully attacked in the fall of 2024.
It is located east of the russian capital near the town of Kirzhach, Vladimir Oblast, and 530 km from Ukraine. Its approximate area is 3.5 square kilometers.
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The available videos show a rather huge detonation. At the same time, 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.
It is known that the 51st GRAU arsenal had 45 storage facilities and 30 ammunition storage sites. The design capacity is up to 264,000 tons of various ammunition. It is unknown how many were present at the time of the attack. New videos show ongoing detonations, while russians report repeated powerful explosions.
Like any other GRAU arsenal, it is not narrowly specialized and is designed to store a full range of munitions, from artillery shells and ATGMs to anti-aircraft and ballistic missiles, and tactical missile systems. At the same time, the arsenal is designed not only for storage but also for the maintenance of munitions.
It should be noted that the destruction of this arsenal may be considered the most difficult operation so far. It is located just a short distance from Moscow, protected by the most heavily concentrated air defense system in the entire russian federation. At the same time, russia has not reported any threats of attacks from Ukrainian UAVs or missiles. In other words, either different means were used, or the russian air defense system failed to intercept the attack.
So far, local russian authorities have confirmed the explosion, a fact later verified by the governor of Vladimir Oblast, Aleksandr Avdeyev. He also threatened to prosecute anyone who disseminates information other than official statements.
Earlier Defense Express reported that long-range Ukrainian strikes have halved russian artillery use, pushed back enemy aircraft, and destroyed missile carriers.
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