Iranian missiles were stored at destroyed Kotluban arsenal in Russia - Ukraine’s General Staff

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed this information on September 29.

"Last night, we targeted the arsenal used for storing and modernizing missile and artillery weapons of the Russian army near the village of Kotluban in the Volgograd region. According to our information, an echelon of Iranian missiles arrived at the facility just before the strike," the statement noted.

Despite being heavily protected by electronic warfare and air defense systems, Ukrainian units completed their mission successfully. 

"A fire and detonation of ammunition were observed at the arsenal," the General Staff added.

The operation was conducted by the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, in collaboration with units from the Special Operations Forces, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

What was reported before?

Sources of various Ukrainian media indicated that the operation was coordinated by the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Special Operations Forces, Security Service, Foreign Intelligence Service, and Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

The strike destroyed Russia's arsenal of missiles, ammunition, and explosives. 

An intelligence source told OBOZ.UA that the attack happened around 2:30 a.m., involving 120 Ukraine-made 'kamikaze' drones. 

“This strike on ammunition and missile storage sites will likely lead to a shortage for the occupying Russian army,” the source stated. 

Meanwhile, Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed that the arsenal targeted belonged to the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry and noted that Iranian ballistic missiles and launchers were likely destroyed in the attack.

What is Russia's version?

According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, a total of 125 drones were reportedly shot down that night across Russian territory.

The breakdown: 67 drones were intercepted over the Volgograd region, 17 each over Belgorod and Voronezh, 18 in Rostov, 3 over the Sea of Azov, and 1 each in Krasnodar, Bryansk, and Kursk.

Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov, where the largest number of drones was allegedly intercepted, said that falling debris set dry grass ablaze.

Similar grass fires were reported in the Rostov region. Local residents claimed that explosions echoed through the night in several districts.

In the Voronezh region, residents also heard loud explosions. Local officials confirmed drone attacks, with some targets supposedly downed, though one drone did hit a residential building. Fortunately, there were no casualties, though the building sustained damage. Social media reports suggest that a forest fire also broke out in the area.

Meanwhile, an attack was reported in Yeisk, Krasnodar Territory — a strategic city on the Black Sea, where Russia launches Shahed drones targeting Ukraine. According to local media, explosions occurred near a military compound, with the airfield likely being a target.

• By morning, Russian forces launched a series of strikes on Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least four people.