Ukraine targeted a key Russian military arsenal near Moscow, setting off massive explosions and prompting evacuations.
On April 22, 2025, Ukrainian forces executed a long-range drone strike targeting the 51st Arsenal of Russia’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU), situated approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Moscow, near Kirzhach in the Vladimir Oblast, approximately 530 kilometers (330 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The strike triggered a chain of powerful secondary explosions and a massive fire at the facility, according to Russian Telegram channels and local sources. In response, authorities closed the main road connecting Moscow to Kirzhach and initiated the evacuation of nearby villages as a precautionary measure.
Reportedly, this is the moment of the explosion at the military arsenal in Vladimir region of Russia. https://t.co/cFA6hhXxeG pic.twitter.com/O4UitETrCO
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) April 22, 2025
“An explosion occurred in the Kirzhach district. Responsible services are working at the scene,” the Kirzhach district administration reported on Telegram. “The evacuation of the villages of Barsovo and Mirny, Kirzhach district, is underway.”
The 51st GRAU Arsenal, spanning 502 hectares, is a strategic site within Russia’s military infrastructure, responsible for the storage and management of various missile and artillery systems.
BREAKING (04/22/2025): The AFU conducted a successful strike (long-range UAV) today on the 51st GRAU (Main Missile and Artillery Directorate) located 8-km SW of #Kirzhach, Vladimir Oblast, Russia.
Location: 56.100029, 38.751010#OSINT pic.twitter.com/nkpZFb50Tq
— OSINT Intuit 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇬🇪 (@UKikaski) April 22, 2025
Ukrainian strike capabilities expand
The attack highlights Ukraine’s growing capacity to conduct long-range strikes deep within Russian territory, targeting logistical and strategic military assets. The use of drones for such operations allows the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to bypass heavily defended areas and disrupt critical supply and storage nodes far from the front lines.
Although it has not been confirmed what specific weapon was used in this strike, the target lies within the operational range of the Palianytsia turbojet drone missile system. Developed domestically during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and unveiled in the summer of 2024, Palianytsia is designed for precision long-range attacks on targets deep within enemy territory.
This is not the first time Ukraine has struck a facility of the GRAU using such drones. On the night of September 17 to 18, 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on the 107th Arsenal ammunition depot in Toropets, 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Ukrainian soil.
