Explosions and fires hit key Russian military sites: Rostov, Murmansk, occupied Donetsk region

More about the "fireworks" in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories in Espreso's weekly review.

Russian General targeted in Moscow, strikes on Rostov refinery and chemical plant, explosion at Northern Fleet base in Murmansk

• On the morning of December 17, an explosion occurred on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow, killing Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his aide Ilya Polikarpov. According to sources, the Security Service of Ukraine was behind the incident. "Kirillov was a war criminal and a legitimate target as he issued orders to use prohibited chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces," the source stated. It is reported that the scooter containing the explosive device was detonated as Kirillov and his aide were entering the building on Ryazansky Prospekt. Both died as a result. Meanwhile, Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed that a scooter near the entrance of a residential building exploded that morning, killing the head of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops, Igor Kirillov, and his aide. According to the Telegram channel Baza, the explosive device may have been attached to the scooter's handlebars. Preliminary reports indicate the explosion occurred about one meter above the ground. "The building's entrance doors were blown off, and windows were shattered. The general's service car was also damaged," the post added.

• On the night of December 19, reports emerged from Russia about a drone attack, claiming 84 UAVs were shot down. Ukraine's Naval Forces and the Security Service, in coordination with other Defense Forces units, targeted the infrastructure and production facilities of the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant in Russia's Rostov region. This is the only refinery operating in the Rostov region and is used to meet the needs of the Russian Armed Forces. The attack resulted in a fire at the facility, specifically at the ELOU-AVT-2.5 catalytic cracking unit. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed its air defense forces allegedly destroyed 84 UAVs: 36 over the Rostov region, 21 over the Bryansk region, 14 over the Belgorod region, 6 over the Voronezh region, 3 each over the Kursk and Tambov regions, and one over the Krasnodar Territory.
• Meanwhile, guerillas set fire to fuel tankers belonging to the occupying Russian army in Novosibirsk. "On the territory of a military unit in the city of Novosibirsk, within the aggressor state Russia, the resistance movement against the Putin regime destroyed several fuel tankers through arson," the statement said.
• On December 18, Russia claimed that Ukraine had used 10 ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles to strike a facility in the Rostov region. The Center for Countering Disinformation noted that one of the largest chemical enterprises in Russia was under attack. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the alleged destruction of all ATACMS missiles and three out of four Storm Shadow missiles. Shortly after, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, confirmed that the target in the Rostov region was the federal state enterprise Kamyansky plant. This is one of the largest chemical enterprises in Russia, specializing in the production of rocket fuel, including solid-propellant components for rocket engines, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Additionally, the plant manufactures explosives, components for munitions, and disposes of and neutralizes used rocket systems.

• On December 20, an explosion occurred near the Russian Northern Fleet base in Murmansk. Interestingly, this is where the Zircon missiles are being tested, and it also hosts command centers and ammunition depots. According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, this base provides Russia with the ability to control Arctic maritime routes and access to the Arctic Ocean. It supports both surface ships and nuclear submarines. The direct distance from Murmansk to Ukraine is approximately 2,000 km. The Northern Fleet’s ships carry Kalibr missiles, which Russia has launched at Ukraine throughout the war. The fleet also conducts reconnaissance missions and counters NATO forces, with a focus on the Arctic.
• On December 20, it was reported that a week earlier, a Russian military transport aircraft, an An-72 worth $4.5 million, had exploded at the Ostafyevo airfield in the Moscow region. "The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reminds everyone - there will be fair retribution for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people," the intelligence service emphasized.
• On the night of Saturday, December 21, Russians reported a drone attack. Allegedly, 19 drones were shot down over four regions and the Black Sea. According to their reports, air defenses downed 9 drones over the Belgorod region, 5 over the Voronezh region, and 1 each over the Kursk region and Krasnodar Territory. Another three drones were reportedly destroyed over the Black Sea. The Russian Telegram channel SHOT wrote that explosions were heard in Sochi in the morning. Locals claimed that starting at 5:50 a.m. local time, they heard between 7 and 10 explosions in Lazarevskoye. They reported that "windows shook in their frames, and car alarms went off."

• On the morning of Saturday, December 21, the city of Kazan, in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, came under drone attack. The drones reportedly struck the upper floors of buildings in elite residential complexes. Throughout the day, locals reported hearing explosions coming from the powder plant. Videos shared online showed a drone hitting the upper floors of a building, with prior explosions also being heard by residents. It was later revealed that a second drone had struck another high-rise. Reports then emerged of damage to three buildings in Kazan: the 37-story Blue Sky residential complex, the 23-story Manhattan complex, and a five-story residential building. Kazan's city administration later confirmed fires in buildings across three districts - Sovetsky, Kirovsky, and Privolzhsky - following the drone attacks.

• On the night of Sunday, December 22, Russians reported a drone attack on the Oryol region. A fire broke out at an oil depot in the village of Stalnoi Kon. "Oryol region is currently under a massive drone attack again, resulting in another fire at a fuel infrastructure facility in the village of Stalnoi Kon, Oryol municipal district. Please remain calm; the attack is still ongoing. At this time, there is no information about casualties or injuries," the regional governor wrote on Telegram. He added that emergency services are on-site, working to mitigate the fire's aftermath. Local public forums reported that Oryol residents heard several muffled explosions overnight, followed by bright flashes in the direction of the oil depot.

Ammo depot destroyed in occupied Donetsk region

• The Security Service of Ukraine used drones to destroy a Russian ammunition depot near the village of Markyne in the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region. According to reports, the depot housed thousands of munitions for infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, anti-tank guided missiles, mines, grenades, and millions of rounds of various calibers. Sources also noted that explosions continued throughout the night at the Russian facility as a result of the special operation. In addition to the ammunition depot, a nearby fuel and lubricants warehouse was also destroyed.

  СБУ знищила російський склад із боєприпасами на тимчасово окупованій Донеччині. Там зберігалися снаряди для танків, БМП, гранати, міни та мільйони патронів pic.twitter.com/Pu6mQeH3s3

  — hromadske (@HromadskeUA) December 16, 2024

Expert opinions

Military expert and chief editor of Defense Express, Oleh Katkov, highlights the significance of the "Peklo" drone-missile development.

"Russia has adapted to Ukraine's use of drones by protecting oil refineries and depots with special fire groups. They employ metal cables and cages to guard against drones, but these are ineffective against cruise missiles flying at speeds of 700 km/h," the military expert noted.

Military expert and former SBU officer (2004–2015) Ivan Stupak believes that Russia has long been planning to implement in Ukraine something similar to what Ukraine is doing in Russia.

"Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russians have failed to carry out anything significant on Ukrainian territory apart from missile strikes. Their actions are limited to fire adjustments, arson of Ukrainian vehicles, and explosions near recruitment centers. The occupiers aim to assassinate someone on Ukrainian soil or abroad to create a major public resonance. This could be a Ukrainian volunteer unit commander, a General Staff official, a prominent security officer, or a media figure. The Russians are heavily banking on such measures," he stated.