Explosions reported in Rostov and Bataysk, oil tanker reportedly hit
Illustrative photo: Russian Emergencies Ministry firefighter (Russian media)
Explosions were reported overnight on December 18 in Rostov-on-Don and the city of Bataysk in Russia’s Rostov region, according to Russian media.
At around 11:30 PM, reports began to emerge of explosions in Rostov-on-Don and Bataysk. Local Telegram channels published photos and videos showing the blasts.
There were also reports of Russian air defence systems being activated.
Residents reported power outages in several settlements across the Rostov region.
The use of unidentified weapons was confirmed by Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar, who also stated that a vessel had been hit at the city’s port.
Local public channels уточнили that an oil tanker was on fire. According to preliminary information, a spill of petroleum products was reportedly avoided.
Attacks on Russian cities
Rostov-on-Don was targeted by drones on the night of December 15. Russian air defence claimed it had intercepted dozens of drones, and an air alert was declared in the Rostov region due to the threat of UAV attacks.
On the evening of December 14, the Luch thermal power plant in Belgorod was struck by weapons of unknown origin, after which residents in several districts reported electricity disruptions.
That same evening, unidentified drones also attacked the Moscow region, with residents reporting explosions on the outskirts of the capital.
In addition, on December 7, drones destroyed fuel storage tanks with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters in the Oryol region.
Earlier reports also indicated a large fire in the city of Livny in Russia’s Oryol region. The blaze followed an attack by unidentified drones. Regional Governor Andrey Klychkov confirmed that the area had been targeted, resulting in fires at fuel and energy infrastructure facilities, though he did not specify which sites were affected.
