Ukrainian Intelligence attack on oil depot in St. Petersburg and bomb delivery from France - Thursday brief

Collage by RBC-Ukraine

Ukrainian military intelligence conducted a drone attack on an oil depot in St. Petersburg, Russia. Meanwhile, France announced the transfer of up to 50 AASM Hammer bombs to Ukraine every month until the end of the year.

For more details on what happened on Thursday, January 18, read RBC-Ukraine’s material.

Russia’s war against Ukraine

On the night of January 18, Russian troops fired 33 attack drones and 2 S-300 missiles at Ukraine. Explosions were heard, in particular, in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Khmelnytskyi regions, and a woman was killed in the shelling of Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, and 3 injured were reported, as well as damage to a school building. Air defense forces shot down 22 Shaheeds while repelling an air attack, and several more drones failed to reach their targets.

The Atesh guerrilla movement said that a Russian Tarantul patrol ship sank in occupied Sevastopol. This happened a few weeks ago, probably after an attack by Ukrainian naval drones.

In Russia, there was a drone attack last night, and explosions were heard in several regions. In the Belgorod region, they talked about air defense, there was a victim, and the Russian Defense Ministry reported on the alleged downing of drones over the Moscow and Leningrad regions. The network wrote that the wreckage of the UAV fell on the territory of the seaport, a fire broke out there, and that one of the drones fell and exploded on the territory of an oil terminal in St. Petersburg. Russian invaders attacked Kupiansk and hit an apartment building, killing a 57-year-old woman and wounding two other people. The enemy also conducted air strikes on Orikhiv and hit non-residential buildings and a multi-story building. The commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskii said that the invaders are not giving up attempts to conduct active assault operations in the Kupiansk direction. The main forces of the Russian occupiers are focused on capturing Synkivka.

Ukrainian intelligence attacks oil depot in St. Petersburg with drones

The drone attack on the oil depot in Russia’s Leningrad region is a special operation of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. There is confirmation that the targets were hit, according to a source in the special services.

The sources tell the agency it was a DIU operation “involving modern Ukrainian means.” Data is currently being collected, but there are already confirmed hits on targets.

The source also notes that from now on, military facilities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region are “within reach of Ukrainian forces.”

When asked if this was the first time Ukrainian drones had managed to reach the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation, the source clarified that “it was not the first time, but there are differences, and the enemy has felt them.”

Drone flew over Putin’s residence in Valdai: New details on oil depot attack in St. Petersburg

During the attack on the oil depot in St. Petersburg that happened tonight, one of the drones flew over the residence of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Valdai, according to the source in the special services.

Earlier sources reported that the drone attack on the oil depot in the Leningrad region was a special operation of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).

In particular, one of the drones flew over Valdai, where the estate of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is located. In particular, this residence and the surrounding area are covered by air defense systems.

Also, the interlocutor, in a comment to the agency, noted that from now on, military objects in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region are “within the reach of Ukrainian forces.”

France will supply Ukraine with up to 50 bombs per month – Defense Minister

France will supply Ukraine with up to 50 air bombs per month until the end of 2024, according to French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

In an interview with France Inter radio, the minister announced that starting from January 2024, France will be providing Ukraine with approximately 50 air bombs monthly, and the deliveries will continue at least until the end of the year.

Lecornu also disclosed an increase in the supply of artillery ammunition to 3000 shells per month.

More about what is known about the AASM Hammer bombs to be delivered by France – in RBC-Ukraine’s article.

Ukraine to receive six Caesar air defense systems from France in coming weeks

Ukraine is set to receive six self-propelled artillery units, known as Caesar, from France in the coming weeks, according to Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov.

According to Umerov, during a phone call with the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, it was conveyed that France would deliver 6 Caesar units in the nearest weeks. Additionally, the French politician announced that Paris could manufacture an additional 72 self-propelled artillery units for Ukraine in 2024.

According to him, his French counterpart also said that Paris could produce another 72 units of the UAV in 2024 for Ukraine.

NATO expects Russia to receive missiles from Iran

Iran is likely to start supplying missiles to its ally Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, says the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Rob Bauer.

Bauer noted that he anticipates the delivery of Iranian missiles to Russia, as Moscow has repeatedly sought such assistance.

However, he mentioned that the use of Iranian missiles by Russian forces has not been observed yet.

Biden comments on aid to Ukraine after meeting with Congress members

President of the United States, Joe Biden, believes that there is a majority in Congress to approve military aid funding for Ukraine. However, he acknowledges the possibility of a “catastrophic” scenario, reports Voice of America.

The American leader made this statement while responding to journalists’ questions about his expectations regarding legislators’ approval of financial and military support for Ukraine from the United States after yesterday’s meeting with members of Congress.

At the same time, he expressed concerns about the possibility of a failure in the vote on approving the relevant aid package.

“The question is whether or not a small minority are going to hold it up, which would be – which would be a disaster,” Biden noted.

Previously, The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden had agreed to tighten immigration policy to avoid criticism and provide assistance to Ukraine.