Russian News
WAR REPORT
Ukraine hits Russian army factories, energy hubs in 'massive' barrage
Ukraine hits Russian army factories, energy hubs in 'massive' barrage
By Stanislav DOSHCHITSYN
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Jan 14, 2025

Ukraine fired missiles and drones at factories and energy facilities across Russia early on Tuesday, sparking fires hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the frontline, a source in Ukraine's SBU security services said.

The Russian military accused Kyiv of using US- and British-supplied missiles and promised the strikes would "not go unanswered".

The barrage forced schools in the southwestern Saratov region to close, while at least nine airports in central and western Russia temporarily halted traffic, according to Russian officials.

Moscow and Kyiv have upped strikes on one another ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration next week, as both sides seek to gain the upper hand in potential negotiations aimed at settling the nearly three-year war.

There were explosions at "chemical plants, oil refineries and warehouses" in Russia overnight, a source in Ukraine's SBU security services told AFP, saying Kyiv had hit "Russian military-industrial complex" sites.

Among the targets hit early on Tuesday were chemical plants in the western regions of Tula and Bryansk, the source added.

In the Saratov region, more than 600 kilometres (372 miles) southeast of Moscow, Kyiv struck an oil refinery and an arms depot, the SBU source said.

Regional governor Roman Busargin said the scale of the attack was "massive".

Schools in the cities of Saratov and Engels will hold classes online on Tuesday because of the attacks, he added.

Firefighters had only the day before managed to put out a blaze at an oil depot in the city of Engels, which was hit by a Ukrainian drone strike on January 8.

In the energy-rich region of Tatarstan, a drone struck a gas storage tank, sending flames and thick smoke billowing toward the sky near the city of Kazan, according to media and the regional government.

Tatarstan local media said a liquefied gas storage base was hit, and published images showing flames and black smoke.

- 'Painful strikes' -

Russia's defence ministry said it shot down six US-supplied ATACMS missiles and six British Storm Shadow cruise missiles that Ukraine had fired at the Bryansk border region.

Ukraine's army had earlier claimed a "successful" missile hit on a chemical plant in the region which makes rocket fuel and explosives for Russia's army.

"Drones successfully distracted Russian air defences, paving the way for missiles that hit the main targets," the Ukrainian military's Unmanned Systems Forces said, confirming a hit on a plant near the town of Seltso, more than 100 kilometres from the border.

Ukraine regularly targets military and energy sites in Russia, part of what it calls "fair" retaliation for Russia's repeated barrages of its energy grid since Moscow invaded in February 2022.

"Each damaged ammunition depot, oil refinery, oil depot or chemical plant is a painful blow to Russia's ability to wage war in Ukraine," the SBU source said.

One Ukrainian blogger, who goes by the name of Nikolayevski Vanyok, said on Telegram that the overnight barrage on Russia was "probably one of the most effective" of the war, reaching places "that usually don't get many strikes".

The Ukrainian air force said separately that its air defence systems had downed 58 Iranian-designed drones launched by Russia, while another 21 were destroyed with electronic interference systems or crashed.

A Ukrainian official in the Kharkiv region meanwhile said on Tuesday morning that a 52-year-old resident of the town of Kozachya Lopan had been killed by Russian artillery fire.

The overnight Ukrainian attacks come at a difficult moment for Kyiv's forces along the front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region.

City authorities in Pokrovsk, Russia's main target in the region, repeated a call on Tuesday for remaining residents to flee the town, where around 60,000 people lived before Russia invaded in February 2022.

Moscow said on Tuesday it had re-captured two Ukrainian villages in the eastern Donetsk region -- Neskuchne and Terny -- that Kyiv had wrested back from Russian control earlier in the conflict, symbolic blows for Kyiv's struggling army.

Fighting has been intense in the weeks ahead of Trump's inauguration on January 20.

The US Republican has said he wants to end the conflict within "24 hours" of taking office, sparking fears in Ukraine it will be forced to make major territorial concessions in exchange for peace.

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
NATO chief says Ukraine not strong enough for peace talks now
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Jan 13, 2025
Ukraine is not currently in a strong enough position for peace talks with Russia, NATO chief Mark Rutte said Monday, as US president-elect Donald Trump gears up to take power. "At this moment, clearly Ukraine is not there, because they cannot at this moment negotiate from a position of strength," Rutte told EU lawmakers. "We have to do more to make sure by changing the trajectory of the conflict that they can get to that position of strength." Trump will be sworn into office next Monday aft ... read more

WAR REPORT
Philippines' Marcos hopeful strong alliance with US will continue

Russia PM meets Vietnam president, Xi hails 'historical opportunity' for China-Sri Lanka

Japan hosts Chinese military delegation in rare visit

Philippines' Marcos hopeful strong alliance with US will continue

WAR REPORT
Iranian president warns Trump against risking 'war'

Iran FM says European powers appear serious about resuming nuclear talks

Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon to begin

Iran, European powers hold 'constructive' nuclear talks

WAR REPORT
Tech innovation propels China's commercial space industry growth

China's human spaceflight program achieves key milestones in 2024

China's space journey continues apace

Shenzhou XIX crew completes successful spacewalk outside Tiangong station

WAR REPORT
Rubio to say China cheated to power, rejects 'liberal world order'

Beijing slams Rubio's 'unwarranted attacks' on China

China's Xi vows 'all-out battle against corruption'

Driver in central China car ramming handed suspended death sentence

WAR REPORT
Small changes can dramatically boost efficacy of piezoceramics

Fresh, direct evidence for tiny drops of quark-gluon plasma

Unlocking the potential of lithium-sulfur batteries

Researchers make wearable materials that generate power and improve comfort

WAR REPORT
WAR REPORT
Controversy in Italy over potential deal with Musk's SpaceX

Quadsat and NATO NCIA validate Quadsat system for WGS compliance testing

ESA to support development of secure EU communications satellite constellation

IRIS2 contract signed to strengthen Europe's space connectivity and security

WAR REPORT
Spain pledges 10 million euros for Lebanon army

Swiss to mull conscripting women

US. unveils $500M in military aid at final Ukraine defense summit before Trump takes office

US announces $5.9 bn in military, budget aid for Ukraine

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.