Day: December 30, 2024

In the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, Russia, a drone strike occurred overnight on December 31. The attack targeted a local oil depot, resulting in a fire at the facility, according to Roman Zakharov, head of the Yartsevo district in the Smolensk region.

According to the Russian official, the fuel and energy facility was attacked by “Ukrainian UAVs.”

“As a result of the enemy attack, fires broke out. Emergency services are currently on-site, working to extinguish the open flames,” Zakharov wrote.

He also stated that “special services and competent authorities” are investigating the incident.

Additionally, the district official urged residents not to record or share footage of the drone strike, air defense operations, or other related incidents on social media.

Meanwhile, videos and photos of the drone strike near Yartsevo and the burning oil depot have already surfaced online.

Russian media also reported an aerial attack in Oryol overnight. However, local authorities have not yet commented on this information.

Later, Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin released a statement on his Telegram channel, claiming that the fire at the oil depot was caused by debris from a downed drone.

“Today, in the Yartsevo district, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s air defense systems suppressed an attack by Ukrainian UAVs. According to preliminary information, the debris from one of the drones fell onto the oil depot premises. This resulted in a fuel spill and a fire in the petroleum products,” the Russian official said.

He also stated that efforts to “contain the aftermath” are ongoing and assured that “there is no threat to residential buildings.”

It is not the first time that Russia has complained about drone attacks in the Smolensk region. For example, earlier reports indicated a UAV strike and a fire in the region on the night of September 15.

In June, Russian authorities also claimed a drone attack on military facilities in the Smolensk region.

In April, a drone strike also resulted in a fire at an oil depot in the Smolensk region, specifically in the Yartsevo district. A satellite captured footage of that major fire at the oil depot.

In the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, Russia, a drone strike occurred overnight on December 31. The attack targeted a local oil depot, resulting in a fire at the facility, according to Roman Zakharov, head of the Yartsevo district in the Smolensk region.

According to the Russian official, the fuel and energy facility was attacked by “Ukrainian UAVs.”

“As a result of the enemy attack, fires broke out. Emergency services are currently on-site, working to extinguish the open flames,” Zakharov wrote.

He also stated that “special services and competent authorities” are investigating the incident.

Additionally, the district official urged residents not to record or share footage of the drone strike, air defense operations, or other related incidents on social media.

Meanwhile, videos and photos of the drone strike near Yartsevo and the burning oil depot have already surfaced online.

Russian media also reported an aerial attack in Oryol overnight. However, local authorities have not yet commented on this information.

Later, Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin released a statement on his Telegram channel, claiming that the fire at the oil depot was caused by debris from a downed drone.

“Today, in the Yartsevo district, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s air defense systems suppressed an attack by Ukrainian UAVs. According to preliminary information, the debris from one of the drones fell onto the oil depot premises. This resulted in a fuel spill and a fire in the petroleum products,” the Russian official said.

He also stated that efforts to “contain the aftermath” are ongoing and assured that “there is no threat to residential buildings.”

It is not the first time that Russia has complained about drone attacks in the Smolensk region. For example, earlier reports indicated a UAV strike and a fire in the region on the night of September 15.

In June, Russian authorities also claimed a drone attack on military facilities in the Smolensk region.

In April, a drone strike also resulted in a fire at an oil depot in the Smolensk region, specifically in the Yartsevo district. A satellite captured footage of that major fire at the oil depot.

In the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, Russia, a drone strike occurred overnight on December 31. The attack targeted a local oil depot, resulting in a fire at the facility, according to Roman Zakharov, head of the Yartsevo district in the Smolensk region.

According to the Russian official, the fuel and energy facility was attacked by “Ukrainian UAVs.”

“As a result of the enemy attack, fires broke out. Emergency services are currently on-site, working to extinguish the open flames,” Zakharov wrote.

He also stated that “special services and competent authorities” are investigating the incident.

Additionally, the district official urged residents not to record or share footage of the drone strike, air defense operations, or other related incidents on social media.

Meanwhile, videos and photos of the drone strike near Yartsevo and the burning oil depot have already surfaced online.

Russian media also reported an aerial attack in Oryol overnight. However, local authorities have not yet commented on this information.

Later, Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin released a statement on his Telegram channel, claiming that the fire at the oil depot was caused by debris from a downed drone.

“Today, in the Yartsevo district, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s air defense systems suppressed an attack by Ukrainian UAVs. According to preliminary information, the debris from one of the drones fell onto the oil depot premises. This resulted in a fuel spill and a fire in the petroleum products,” the Russian official said.

He also stated that efforts to “contain the aftermath” are ongoing and assured that “there is no threat to residential buildings.”

It is not the first time that Russia has complained about drone attacks in the Smolensk region. For example, earlier reports indicated a UAV strike and a fire in the region on the night of September 15.

In June, Russian authorities also claimed a drone attack on military facilities in the Smolensk region.

In April, a drone strike also resulted in a fire at an oil depot in the Smolensk region, specifically in the Yartsevo district. A satellite captured footage of that major fire at the oil depot.

The US Department of Defense does not see significant effectiveness in the participation of North Korean military personnel in battles in the Kursk region against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Instead, North Korean forces are reportedly suffering substantial losses, according to the US Department of Defense, citing Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.

The Pentagon official noted that the US Defense Department aligns with the recent assessment by President Joe Biden’s administration regarding the number of North Korean casualties in the Kursk region during battles alongside Russian forces against Ukrainian defenders.

“The White House recently announced that approximately 1,000 North Korean soldiers have either been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. That’s our assessment as well,” Singh said.

The deputy spokesperson added that attacks by North Korean troops in this region are “not proving significantly effective.”

According to Singh, North Korean forces are sustaining a “significant amount” of casualties in the Kursk region.

North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine

According to South Korean reports, North Korea has already sent approximately 11,000 soldiers to Russia to assist Moscow in its war against Ukraine. A portion of these troops was deployed to the Kursk region after undergoing training to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

On December 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces had begun involving North Korean soldiers in battles in the Kursk region.

Recently, Seoul reported that at least 100 North Korean soldiers in Russia have been killed during combat, while another 1,000 have been injured.

On December 26, Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also noted that North Korean forces in the Kursk region continue to suffer losses.

On December 27, President Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces and North Korean supervisors were trying to prevent North Korean soldiers from being captured. He added that there have been cases where North Korean troops were killed by their own forces.

That same day, the White House reported significant casualties among North Korean soldiers in the Russian army, with some resorting to suicide.

What the DPRK’s troops give Russia and whether there is an effect on the frontline – read our separate article.

A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol. He was removed from office following a decision to impose martial law in the country on December 3, reports Reuters.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) confirmed that the Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday, December 31, approved the arrest warrant requested by investigators probing Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law. This marks the first arrest warrant for a sitting president in South Korea.

The Secretary-General did not comment on the court’s reasoning for issuing the arrest warrant. The court declined to provide comments to the agency.

It is currently unclear when and how the arrest warrant for Yoon will be executed. South Korea’s Presidential Security Service stated it would review the arrest warrant in accordance with proper legal procedures.

Additionally, the court approved a search warrant for the president’s residence. Meanwhile, the acting leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, Kweon Seong-dong, said the attempt to arrest the sitting president was inappropriate.

Previously, the police attempted but failed to conduct a search of the president’s office as part of the investigation, as the president’s security service blocked access.

Yoon is facing a criminal case involving potential charges of organizing a coup. A coup is one of the few charges for which the South Korean president has no immunity.

Coup attempt in South Korea

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the country. The president aimed to remove the opposition Democratic Party and other political opponents from power.

The decision triggered a severe political crisis, accompanied by protests near the parliament and government buildings. Yoon later rescinded the martial law, which lasted about six hours and apologized for the decision.

The president was removed from office, and his powers were transferred to the country’s Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo.

Meanwhile, investigators determined that Yoon allowed the military to use force against protesters who had blocked the entrance to the parliament.

On December 27, the Constitutional Court began reviewing a case on impeachment proceedings against Yoon Suk Yeol.

On December 30, investigators requested an arrest warrant for President Yoon.