0 seconds of 1 minute, 32 seconds Volume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
King Charles to undergo surgery next week for enlarged prostate
00:50
facebook twitter Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/04C4z9tK Copied
Live
00:00
01:32
01:32
More Videos
00:50
King Charles to undergo surgery next week for enlarged prostate
00:46
Putin watches Russia's military might on display in war games
00:34
King Charles kissed on the cheek at Buckingham Palace
00:49
Trump posts utterly bizarre 'God made Trump' campaign video
00:30
Trump lawyer Alina Habba’s past comments on faking being smart resurface
00:35
Republicans spotted lobbying members on House floor as McCarthy fails fourth vote
Close
？
Close
Firefighters battle blaze in Ukraine's Odessa after Russian airstrike on residential building
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Breaking News email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
A Russian oil tank near Ukraine’s northern border has caught fire after the military brought down a Ukrainian drone trying to attack targets in the town, a local official has claimed.
Alexander Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine and Belarus, said that while Russian forces had used electronic warfare to down the drone, its munitions had hit the Klintsy oil depot and caused a fire. Russian news outlet Tass has since claimed the fire is 1,000 square metres, adding that four fuel tanks are burning.
Unverified footage posted on social media has shown a huge column of smoke burning in the darkness alongside what looks like storage tanks.
Earlier on Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry (MoD) said it destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the skies over the Bryansk region.
It comes a day after Russian media outlets claimed a Ukrainian drone downed in Vladimir Putin’s hometown of St Petersburg, more than 600 miles from Kyiv, had also caused a fire after hitting an oil facility.
The Russian MoD claimed all drones had been intercepted but a Ukrainian military source said there had been “confirmed hits”.
Recommended Ukraine targets Putin’s hometown in ‘new phase’ of drone strikes against Russia Russia's foreign minister rejects a US proposal to resume talks on nuclear arms control France ramps up weapons production for Ukraine and says Russia is scrutinizing the West's mettle
Key Points Oil depot in Russia's Bryansk region catches fire after Ukrainian drone attack - governor Ukraine targets Putin’s home city in rare attack EU 27 states will provide further funds to Ukraine - Von der Leyen
Show latest update 58 minutes ago Russian parliament to ask French counterpart if it knew of 'French mercenaries' in Ukraine - official
The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, plans to formally ask France’s National Assembly if it is aware that French mercenaries have been fighting on Ukraine‘s side, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma’s chairman, said on Friday.
Volodin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, made the statement after the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had killed more than 60 foreign mercenaries, mostly French citizens, in a strike on a building in Kharkiv. It did not provide evidence to back the assertion.
France rejected the allegations, saying it was helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity but had no mercenaries in Ukraine “unlike certain others”.
“In France, the mercenary trade is forbidden by law,” Volodin wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
“It is important for us to know whether they (French lawmakers) are aware that someone, violating the law, is sending fighters to fight in Ukraine.”
The Duma would consider its address to the French parliament at the next meeting of the lower chamber of parliament which is scheduled for 23 January, he said.
Russia announced on Thursday it had summoned the French ambassador to the Foreign Ministry over the mercenary allegations.
Tom Watling 19 January 2024 09:01
1 hour ago US warns of Russian campaign to weaponise 2024 European elections against Ukraine
Vladimir Putin is planning to wage information warfare to turn opinion in Europe against Ukraine this year as many European countries gear up for elections, a top US official said.
“Russia is hoping that the number of elections in Europe this year could change what has been a remarkable coalition and disciplined opposition to its war,” said Jamie Rubin, special envoy and coordinator for the Global Engagement Center (GEC).
The GEC is an agency of the State Department whose mission is to counter foreign state propaganda, as well as coordinating the US government’s public communications around counter-terrorism.
US warns of Russian campaign to weaponise 2024 European elections Britain, Austria and Georgia are having national elections this year alongside polls for the European Parliament
Tom Watling 19 January 2024 08:23
2 hours ago North Korea envoy returns after meeting Putin in Moscow
North Korea’s foreign minister returned from Russia on Friday after a rare official visit and meeting with President Vladimir Putin as part of closer cooperation that Washington said could drastically change the security threat posed by Pyongyang.
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and a government delegation returned home on Friday, official news agency KCNA said without elaborating on her meetings in Moscow.
Earlier this week, KCNA said Choe and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed strengthening the “strategic and tactical cooperation” and implementing the agreement between their leaders to forge closer ties when they met in September.
Choe’s visit was the latest in a series of high-level exchanges since last year amid growing criticism of Pyongyang’s role in the Ukraine war by allegedly shipping artillery and missiles to Russia.
Both North Korea and Russia deny the accusation and also the charge that Pyongyang was receiving advanced technology for developing strategic military capability from Moscow in return.
Recent exchange between North Korea and Russia is “an unprecedented level of cooperation in the military sphere,” White House senior director for arms control Pranay Vaddi said on Thursday.
“I think the nature of North Korea as a threat in the region could drastically change over the coming decade as a result of this cooperation,” Mr Vaddi said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, welcomes North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui for their talks in Moscow this week
Tom Watling 19 January 2024 07:50
2 hours ago Oil depot in Russia's Bryansk region catches fire after Ukrainian drone attack - governor
Oil tanks at a storage facility in the town of Klintsy in Russia’s Bryansk region caught fire after the military brought down a Ukrainian drone trying to attack targets in the town, Alexander Bogomaz, the regional governor, has said.
According to preliminary information, nobody had been hurt in the incident, Bogomaz said, adding that the fire was being put out by firefighting teams.
“An aeroplane-style drone was brought down by the defence ministry using radio-electronic means. When the aerial target was destroyed, its munitions were dropped on the territory of the Klintsy oil depot,” Bogomaz wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Unverified footage (posted below) showed a fire burning in the darkness alongwise what looked like storage tanks.
Earlier on Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry had said it had destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the skies over the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.
Tom Watling 19 January 2024 07:21
3 hours ago US sanctions a United Arab Emirates shipping firm for allegedly violating Russian oil price cap
The U.S. on Thursday hit a United Arab Emirates shipping firm with sanctions after it transported Russian crude oil above the $60 per barrel price cap.
This is Treasury’s first oil price cap enforcement action of 2024 — imposed on Hennesea Holdings Limited and its 18 vessels that the U.S. Treasury now considers blocked property. U.S. firms and people can no longer conduct business with them.
“Today’s actions once again demonstrate that anyone who violates the price cap will face the consequences,” said Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “No one should doubt our coalition’s commitment to stopping those who help the Kremlin.”
US sanctions a United Arab Emirates shipping firm for allegedly violating Russian oil price cap The U.S. hit a United Arab Emirates shipping firm and its 18 vessels with sanctions after it transported Russian crude oil above the $60 per barrel price cap
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 06:30
4 hours ago Russia’s intense attacks on Ukraine has sharply increased civilian casualties in December, UN says
Russia’s intense missile and drone attacks across Ukraine in recent weeks sharply increased civilian casualties in December with over 100 killed and nearly 500 injured, the United Nations said in a new report Tuesday.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said there was a 26.5% increase in civilian casualties last month – from 468 in November to 592 in December. With some reports still pending verification, it said, the increase was likely higher.
Russia's intense attacks on Ukraine has sharply increased civilian casualties in December, UN says The United Nations says Russia’s intense missile and drone attacks across Ukraine in recent weeks sharply increased civilian casualties in December, with over 100 killed and nearly 500 injured
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 05:49
5 hours ago Brit fighter returns to frontline after dodging Russian death penalty threat
A British prisoner has re-appeared back on the frontline after being handed a death sentence by Russian authorities as a POW.
British fighter Aiden Aslin was captured by Russian-backed separatists while defending the city of Mariupol.
Aslin was beaten, stabbed and forced to sing the Russian national anthem while held in detention. On 9 June 2022, he was sentenced to death by the separatists for “mercenary activities” — despite being members of the Ukrainian military, which should have afforded him protection from prosecution under the Geneva Conventions.
The pair were released in a prisoner exchange brokered by Saudi Arabia.
One of five Britons (right) released from captivity by Russian-backed forces has said he did not believe he would survive the ordeal (Alamy/PA)
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 04:32
6 hours ago Russia preparing to ban Britain from fishing for cod and haddock in Barents Sea
Russia is preparing legislation to ban British fishermen from the Barents Sea, one of the biggest fisheries for cod and haddock in the world, according to a major Russian newspaper.
Vladimir Putin’s government is in favour of draft legislation submitted by the agriculture ministry that would see Russia pulling out of a Soviet-era fishing agreement that allowed British vessels to operate in the sea, according to Izvestiya.
The 1956 fisheries agreement came as part of concerted diplomatic efforts to ease post-war tensions with the West, and allowed British vessels to fish for seafood along the coast of the Russian Kola Peninsula, east of Cape Kanin Nos, off Kolguev Island and the small islands in the Barents Sea.
Russia preparing to ban Britain from fishing for cod and haddock in Barents Sea Vladimir Putin’s government is preparing to denounce Soviet-era fishing agreement with UK
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 03:38
8 hours ago Parts of Crimea under blackout
Parts of Crimea, annexed by Russian troops in 2014, were left without electricity on the evening of 18 January, Reuters has reported. Later, the Russian Energy Ministry said power was restored.
According to the occupation authorities, the blackout was caused by an emergency shutdown of a power plant in Balaklava, which resulted from an interruption of its gas supply. However, what caused the malfunction was not clear.
Since Russia annexed the peninsula, Crimea has served as one of the largest Russian military bases used by the occupiers to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and villages.
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 01:00
Promoted stories
New Mazda CX50
Mazda CX50 Is A True Head Turner (You'll Double Take At The Price)New Mazda CX50
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
9 hours ago Crimea suffers blackout in areas under Russian control
Parts of Crimea, annexed by Russian troops in 2014, were left without electricity on the evening of 18 January, Reuters has reported.
Reports say the blackout was caused by an emergency shutdown of a power plant in Balaklava, which resulted from an interruption of its gas supply.
The cause of the interruption is not clear later, the Russian Energy Ministry said power was restored.
Since Russia annexed the peninsula, Crimea has served as one of the largest Russian military bases used by the occupiers to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and villages.
Barney Davis 19 January 2024 00:08
Newer 1 / 4 Older
More about Russia Ukraine Vladimir Putin Kyiv Moscow Volodymyr Zelensky
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
1Comments
1/ 1Kyiv cross-border drone attack causes fire after hitting oil facility
Kyiv cross-border drone attack causes fire after hitting oil facility
A huge fire is pictured in Bryansk after a downed Ukrainian drone hit an oil facility
@war_monitor_ua/Twitter
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in