Buildings and Oil Tanker Hit in Southern Russia in Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Late-night explosions were reported in Rostov-on-Don after multiple drone incidents, with eyewitnesses describing bright flashes in the sky and at least five blasts heard in the city center. Regional authorities later confirmed that unmanned aerial vehicles struck civilian and port infrastructure, prompting emergency operations across several locations.

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Взрыв и пожар

Explosions and Damage in Rostov-on-Don

The governor of the Rostov Region, Yury Slyusar, said a Ukrainian drone hit a building under construction, while another incident damaged a vessel at the port of Rostov-on-Don. According to preliminary information, there were casualties among the crew.

"As a result of the drone attack, a vessel in the port of Rostov-on-Don was damaged. There are preliminary reports of casualties among the crew,” said Yury Slyusar.

The mayor of Rostov-on-Don, Alexander Skryabin, confirmed that emergency services were extinguishing a fire on a tanker. He reported fatalities and injuries but emphasized that an oil spill had been avoided, limiting the environmental impact of the incident.

Fires and Power Outages in Bataysk

In the nearby city of Bataysk, residents reported a separate series of explosions followed by fires in a residential area. Two private houses caught fire, and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene. Authorities said four residents required medical assistance, though details about their conditions were not disclosed.

"Two private houses caught fire in Bataysk after the drone strike. Emergency services are on site, and information about the injured is being clarified,” said Yury Slyusar.

Local residents reported that at least seven streets were left without electricity, with power disruptions affecting multiple districts. Witnesses also described shattered windows in nearby homes. According to reports from Shot, a family with a child was inside one of the damaged houses and was taken away by ambulance.

Earlier Drone Strike in Tver

The incidents in the Rostov Region followed a drone strike earlier this month in Tver, a city in Central Russia, not far from Moscow. On December 12, a UAV crashed into an apartment building, damaging the lower floors and at least ten apartments. Thick, acrid smoke filled the courtyard, forcing residents to flee.

Footage from the scene showed injured adults carrying a child, walking barefoot through broken glass as bystanders attempted to help. Three adults and one child were hospitalized, while residents whose apartments were damaged were relocated to a temporary accommodation center set up in a local school.

Debris from another drone reportedly fell onto the parking lot of the Tandem shopping center in Tver. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Assessment

Authorities said emergency and investigative services are continuing to assess the damage and determine the full circumstances of the attacks. Power restoration and firefighting efforts remain underway, while officials have urged residents to follow safety instructions as assessments continue.