Where Russians witnessed blasts this week: powerful explosion in Taganrog, and blown up train in occupied Melitopol

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

Explosions in Taganrog, drone attacks in Moscow and Kaluga regions

• On Thursday, December 14, when the ATASH guerrillas reported a successful raid on the Moscow streets and managed to find a part of the Russian Guard, sneak in and film useful materials, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that nine drones had been shot down over Moscow and Kaluga regions. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian media reported that the HUR (Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate) was involved. It is noted that the targets were military facilities, in particular in the Moscow and Kaluga regions. "After the recent strikes that the Russians have carried out in Ukraine, this was a good reminder for them that they will not have quiet nights either," the report states. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted about the attack on his telegram channel: "Tonight, air defense forces in the Naro-Fominsky urban district repelled an attack by a drone flying towards Moscow," the message reads.
• Only a day later, on December 16, drones attacked the Dmitrievsky and Zheleznogorsky districts of the Kursk region, damaging houses and power lines. At that time, the Kursk region's governor, Roman Starovoit, noted that three incidents were recorded in the village of Krupets, Dmitrievsky district. According to preliminary information, fences, windows, and roofs were damaged in 8 houses. The strike was also made near the railway station of Dmytriyeve, which damaged the compressor station.
• Also on Saturday, December 16, a powerful explosion was heard in Taganrog, Russia, after which Russian military helicopters took off into the sky. A photo appeared on local channels showing a column of smoke, allegedly after the incident.
• At night and in the morning of Sunday, December 17, 35 UAVs attacked Russian territory. Sources in the Ukrainian intelligence services said that the drones attacked a military airfield in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation, causing damage. "What the Russian media claim that all the drones were shot down is not true. There was at least a direct hit on the military airfield. There is destruction. Other consequences are being clarified," the source said. According to him, the number of UAVs launched, which are reported in the Russian information space, is close to the truth. Media report that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate is behind the operation.

Photo: Denys Kazansky's Telegram channel

Successful guerrilla operations in Melitopol and Mariupol and an air strike on an oil depot in Donetsk 

• Several powerful explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Mariupol late in the evening of December 14. According to reports, a fire broke out at the base of Russian troops. "Powerful explosions were heard. Something is burning strongly behind Port City. Ambulances are now on their way there. We are waiting for details and official information from the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the Mariupol City Council said. Journalist Denis Kazanskyi also reported a powerful fire in Mariupol. According to him, the fire broke out following the hit in the Metro and PortCity areas. Later he added that it was burning in the area of the occupiers' location on the territory of a concrete plant. 
• On December 15, in Melitopol, guerrillas successfully sabotaged and blew up a train carrying ammunition and fuel for the Russian invaders. This train was used by Russians to transport ore, grain and damaged equipment from the temporarily occupied territories. The controlled explosion damaged the railroad and a locomotive with cars. The explosion occurred at eight in the morning right in front of the Russian FSB. The invaders have surrounded the site of the explosion and are searching the surrounding area. The occupation administration is trying to conceal the fact of sabotage, while the Russians are unsuccessfully searching for guerrillas, Ukraine's Center for National Resistance notes. FSB officers, traitors from the police, cynologists with sniffer dogs and even experts from the criminal laboratory are involved.
• Meanwhile, on the evening of Friday, December 15, an air raid on an oil depot was recorded in the temporarily occupied Donetsk. The attack was recorded in Budyonovskiy district of the temporarily occupied Donetsk. The photos shown by the Russian invaders show that a serious fire is going on at the oil depot. There was no official information about the strike on Donetsk. The Russians blame the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the attack. Ukraine did not comment on the situation.
• On December 16, in the temporarily occupied Mariupol, Ukrainian guerrillas blew up the car of a Russian military officer of one of the Caucasian units. It is noted that the explosion occurred on Nesterova Street in the Primorsky district. According to Andriushchenko, the officer is currently in a hospital in Mariupol. "The explosion itself occurred simultaneously with the "Mariupol cotton", which allowed to hide it from the attention of the police and the FSB until hospitalization," wrote the mayor's adviser.

Photo: Petro Andriushchenko

Experts' opinions

ISW experts note that in the temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian troops are using warships, including the Cyclone corvette, to supplement air defense systems. They are used to reinforce air defense from the base in Sevastopol, ISW explains.

Meanwhile, the Atesh movement guerrillas in the temporarily occupied Dzhankoy district in Crimea have successfully reconnoitered the airfield and discovered enemy radar stations. They emphasize that these locations could become targets for new attacks.

"The information received was promptly passed on to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Now we are waiting for new missile strikes on the military targets of the Russians," the movement's representatives noted.