A drone attack by Ukraine sparked a fire and forced the partial evacuation of residents in Russia’s Tver region.
Kyiv Targeted Many Western Regions
Officials said on Wednesday that Kyiv targeted several western regions in strikes overnight.
Wreckage from a destroyed Ukrainian drone sparked a fire in the town of Toropets in the western part of the Tver region,
Igor Rudenya, the governor of the region located northwest of Moscow gave this description on the Telegram messaging app.
Schools Closed In Parts Of Russia’s Tver Region
The administration announced closure of schools and kindergartens in parts of Russia’s Tver region following reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on the region.
“Dear residents! Kindergartens and schools are suspended for today!!!” the administration of the Zapadnodvinsky district in Tver said on the social Vkontatke network.
The district borders the Toropetsky district, where officials said a Ukrainian drone attack sparked fire.
Efforts On To Contain The Fire
Fire fighters were trying to contain the fire, Rudenya said, but he did not say what was burning.
Russian air defence units were still trying to repel “a massive drone attack” over the town, he added.
Russia Building An Arsenal In Toropets
According to a RIA state news agency report from 2018, Russia was building an arsenal for the storage of missiles, ammunition and explosives in Toropets.
This is a 1,000-year-old town, which has a population of just over 11,000.
Ukrainian Drones Also Destroyed
Seven Ukrainian drones were also destroyed over the western Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, governor of the region, which borders Belarus, said on Telegram.
Fourteen more drones were downed over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, and several more were destroyed over the regions of Oryol and Tula.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
No Comment From Ukraine
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Kyiv has previously said its strikes on Russia target military, energy and transport infrastructure key to Moscow’s war efforts.
Russian officials rarely disclose the full extent of damage inflicted by Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine Has Increased Attacks On Russian Territory
As Ukraine has ramped up its domestic drone production over the past two years, it has increased attacks on Russian territory.
Ukraine’s biggest-ever drone attack targeted the Russian capital in September, killing at least one, wrecking homes and disrupting flights at Moscow’s airports.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
