Drone strikes spark fires in Russia’s Leningrad, Rostov regions

Russia's Ministry of Defense and Telegram channels report this.

Russia's Ministry of Defense reported the alleged destruction and interception of 40 drones overnight: 16 over Rostov region, four over Kursk and Voronezh regions, three over Bryansk, two over Kuban, one over Belgorod region, and ten over the Sea of Azov.

Leningrad region

In Gatchina, Leningrad region, residents reported hearing explosions, after which a large fire broke out, according to Telegram channels ASTRA and Baza.

The fire engulfed 1,600 square meters of a two-story brick building in an industrial zone, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations stated. No information on casualties has been reported.

Local residents also report continued detonations. Nearby are the Ingria Tech company, which sells panel coatings and paints, as well as the fish processing and canning plant Admiral and the Gatchina SKC, which produces panels for residential and administrative buildings.

Rostov region

In Rostov region, acting governor Yuriy Slyusar reported that several buildings were damaged in the village of Kryukov, Kuybyshevsky district, due to a drone crash: broken windows, damaged facades, and roofs in seven residential houses and a school, according to Novosti Rostova.

In the Myasnikovsky district, in the village of Chaltir, a fire broke out in a private house following a drone attack, and parked cars nearby caught fire. The fire was extinguished at 7:35 a.m. No injuries were reported, the regional head added.

In the village of Krym, a production facility caught fire. As of 7:13 a.m., the fire covering 2,000 square meters had been extinguished.

The Privet-Rostov channel noted that many fire trucks were dispatched from Rostov. Preliminary reports suggest that the PlastFaktor plastic plant is on fire.

• On the night of Saturday, January 4, Russia reported drone attacks on five regions, with explosions heard in the Smolensk region.