Fire at factory in Moscow, drone attack, and explosion at oil depot in occupied Makiivka: This week's blasts in Russia

Read more about explosions in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories in Espreso's weekly review.

Fire at a factory in Moscow, explosions at an oil depot in the temporarily occupied Makiivka and an attack on a Russian oil depot in Luhansk

• On the evening of December 3, a plant for the production of specialized vehicles caught fire in Moscow. The company is one of the top 10 trailer manufacturers in Europe. The fire covered a thousand square meters. The fire was assigned the 2nd rank of complexity.
• On Monday, December 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed a successful attack on a Russian oil depot in Luhansk the night before. On the night of December 4, Russian propaganda Telegram channels reported that the oil depot had been attacked by Ukrainian drones. And Luhansk residents on the social network claimed to have heard about five explosions between 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. A video was also posted online showing the sound of a drone flying and then an explosion. Other footage shows that a fire broke out after the explosion.
• Early in the morning on December 6, a powerful explosion was heard in the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, which was heard by residents of several city neighborhoods. According to the head of the Berdyansk City Military Administration, Viktoria Halitsyna, at about 5 a.m., residents of 3 neighborhoods reported a loud explosion. A large number of Russian soldiers were present in the area, not allowing even pedestrians to pass.
• On Wednesday, December 6, in the temporarily occupied Luhansk, unidentified persons blew up a car carrying a deputy of the so-called "LPR", Oleh Popov. He probably died from his injuries.The car of the collaborator was blown up near the Avangard stadium in the center of Luhansk. The head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Artem Lysohor, also said that as a result of the car explosion, collaborator Popov received injuries incompatible with life.
• On Saturday, December 9, a powerful explosion occurred on the territory of a fuel and lubricant storage base in the temporarily occupied by Russians Makiivka, Donetsk region. A huge fire broke out after the explosion. "The fire in Makiivka is of epic proportions. It looks like another fuel and lubricants depot of the occupying army has been destroyed," journalist Denis Kazanskyi said at the time.  According to Russian propagandists, the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly fired "four missiles" at the target.

Drone attacks on the temporarily occupied Crimea, strikes on several Russian military facilities on the peninsula and fires

• At night and in the morning of Tuesday, December 5, Russia reported the interception and destruction of 41 Ukrainian drones over its territory and occupied Crimea. Of these, 13 drones were allegedly intercepted over the Sea of Azov and the territory of Crimea.
• Meanwhile, on December 5, in the morning, Ukrainian special services attacked a number of Russian military facilities in the temporarily occupied Crimea with drones. According to the sources, the Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) drones hit: the Nebo-M radar system near the village of Baherove, a helicopter parking lot, the P-18 Terek radar system, and the Baikal-1M anti-aircraft missile control system near Strilkove. They added that this was the SBU's way of “congratulating” the Russian occupying forces on the International Volunteer Day and reminding them that Ukrainian land would literally burn under their feet.
• On the night of December 8, a gas pipeline caught fire in the temporarily occupied Kerch, Crimea. About 30,000 people were cut off from gas supply. The fire occurred on a gas pipe in the area of General Petrov Street. 

Photo: GTS Operator of Ukraine

Expert opinion

Last week's double sabotage on the BAM railroad in Siberia was one of Ukraine's most effective actions behind enemy lines. For the first time, the information effect of a strike on a symbolic object was combined with a large immediate economic loss. This opinion was expressed in an article by the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF). 

According to KSF experts, asymmetric strikes deep into Russia’s rear should be one of the important elements of a new strategy in the war, the need for which is being voiced by the Ukrainian government and public.

"Ukraine, on the one hand, has exhausted its previous 'conventional' strategy due to the lack of air superiority. The aggressor, on the other hand, has shown a willingness to incur any human and economic losses in order to maintain the occupied areas. The Kremlin has decided to finally concentrate its economy on the war against Ukraine," experts believe.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars explained why RUssian forces do not use airfields near Dzhankoi.

"Our agents were able to find out a new route of transportation of Russian manpower to Dzhankoi. The military arrive at the station by road and train. But after the recent attacks and heavy losses of personnel, the occupiers' command ordered not to use the airfield and the military camp near it for the overstay of soldiers. We found out that they are being taken to Kalynivka," the movement's representatives say.