Powerful explosions and detonation erupted in the Russian-occupied city of Khartsyzk, Donetsk Oblast, late on 2 July. Multiple reports and videos from local sources point to a possible Ukrainian strike targeting an ammunition depot deep behind Russian lines.
Nighttime blast and detonation captured on video
Loud explosions occurred in Khartsyzk, accompanied by a strong detonation. Local residents shared videos showing the moment of impact and the subsequent fire. The footage, widely circulated on Telegram, depicted a large blast, followed by intense flames and a heavy smoke column.
The town has been under Russian control since 2014.
Possible Ukrainian strike on Russian ammunition depot
OSINT Telegram channel KiberBoroshno believes that the strike hit a former industrial storage facility. They stated,
“The area was marked as an ‘abandoned industrial warehouse for explosives,’ covered by a Tor air defense system, but it didn’t help.”
More footage of the last night's attack.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 3, 2025
Occupied since 2014, Khartsyzk is a key logistics hub for Russian forces and has seen previous attacks in 2022 and January 2025.
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Although the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not issued an official confirmation, the nature of the explosion strongly suggests a successful strike on a key Russian military site.
The head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, also indicated that the location likely housed a Russian ammunition depot. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ echoed that claim, captioning the shared clips as “Strike on an ammo storage in Khartsyzk.”
More footage of the last night's attack.
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 3, 2025
Occupied since 2014, Khartsyzk is a key logistics hub for Russian forces and has seen previous attacks in 2022 and January 2025.
????TG/Supernova+ pic.twitter.com/kGPWb726BY
Quisling official’s claims
Victoria Zhukova, a representative of Russia’s occupation administration in the Khartsyzk district, acknowledged that many residents reported shattered windows in apartment buildings. She also noted complaints about heavy smoke in the aftermath of the explosion.
This incident is not the first strike on Russian targets in Khartsyzk. In January 2025, Ukrainian forces reported hitting a Russian army command post in the city. Earlier, in 2022, another ammunition warehouse in the occupied city exploded.