Ukraine War: Drone Attack Hits Tanker in Russian Port, Officials Report

A drone strike ignited a tanker in the southern Russian port of Rostov-on-Don, according to local officials. Regional Governor Yuri Slyusar reported the incident on Telegram, stating the attack damaged the vessel, and preliminary reports indicate crew members died. Mayor Alexander Skriabin told Russian news agencies that emergency teams are working to extinguish the fire caused by the drone strike while the tanker was docked. He added that a spill of oil products was avoided, but there were fatalities and injuries. Slyusar also noted that parts of a high-rise apartment building under construction sustained damage in the city, and two private homes burned down in a nearby town.

Meanwhile, Russian air strikes targeting the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia and its surrounding areas injured at least 32 people, local authorities reported. Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration, stated on Telegram that all casualties were from the city and its vicinity. Earlier reports from rescue services indicated that five children were among the 30 initially reported injured after Russian strikes hit an apartment block, a house, and an educational establishment on Wednesday. Firefighters were observed battling a blaze in a multi-story residential building. Fedorov also reported that a Russian drone strike on a civilian car in Kushuhum, located south of Zaporizhzhia, wounded two people.

In other developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Brussels to urge European partners to utilize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, despite what Agence France-Presse reported as “pressure” from Washington against the plan, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. The European Union has proposed using the frozen assets to secure €90 billion ($105 billion) in loans for Ukraine, with the understanding that Russia would eventually repay the funds as reparations.

European intelligence agencies have revealed that Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been subjected to an intimidation campaign orchestrated by Russian intelligence. The goal is to persuade Belgium to block the use of €185 billion ($217 billion) in assets for Ukraine. Security officials told The Guardian that key figures at Euroclear, the securities depository holding the majority of Russia’s frozen assets, and Belgian leaders have been deliberately targeted. EU leaders are currently meeting in Brussels to discuss whether to approve the lending of urgently needed funds to Ukraine, secured against Russian central bank assets.

President Zelenskyy also stated that Russia is planning a new “year of war” against Ukraine in 2026. This statement followed Vladimir Putin's assertion that Moscow would “certainly” achieve its objectives. Zelenskyy made his remarks in his evening address on Wednesday, reacting to Putin's earlier statement that Moscow would achieve its goals in Ukraine, including seizing Ukrainian territories it claims. Putin also warned that Moscow would seek to expand its territorial gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its allies reject the Kremlin's demands in peace talks.

Finally, the UK has issued a final warning to Roman Abramovich, demanding that he release £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) from the sale of Chelsea FC for humanitarian causes in Ukraine. According to reports from Jessica Elgot, the billionaire has 90 days to release the funds or face court action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons that the funds from Abramovich, who is under UK sanctions, would be used to create a new foundation for humanitarian aid in Ukraine and that issuing a license for the transfer represents Abramovich's last opportunity to comply.