Ukraine Hits Key Russian Logistics Hub Debaltseve, Setting Off Chain Explosions at Ammo Depot

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck an ammunition depot in temporarily occupied Debaltseve in Ukraine’s Donetsk region late on January 20, sparking a fire and a series of secondary explosions, according to Militarnyi on January 20. 

Militarnyi reported that the strike hit a “large” ammunition storage site used by the Russian army in Debaltseve, which temporarily remains under Russian control in the eastern Donetsk region.

Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for Study of Occupation , said on Telegram that there was a direct hit on an ammunition storage site and that “the hit was so powerful” the occupation administration urged residents to “stay at home,” while posting video from the city. 

“For the first time, I’m seeing such an excellent, almost immediate fact-check,” the caption said, referring to the city administration reporting a hit on an ammunition depot in a separate Telegram post.

Separate footage shared by OSINT-linked channels and reposted by Ukrainian outlets showed a large blaze and continuing detonations, while the Russian-installed head of Debaltseve, Sergey Zhelnovach, was cited as confirming ammunition was exploding in the city and telling residents to take shelter in safer places. 

Debaltseve, a key road and railway junction in eastern Ukraine, fell out of Kyiv’s control during the 2015 fighting in the Donbas, and it has since been used as a logistics node in the occupied part of the Donetsk region. 

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian drone units struck targets in Russian-occupied Donetsk region, including an ammunition depot in Makiivka and electrical substations linked to power supply.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW