Ukrainian forces struck a tanker in the southern Russian port of Rostov-on-Don early on Thursday, causing deaths and damage, according to regional governor Yuri Slyusar. The strike damaged the vessel and, based on preliminary information, crew members died. Mayor Alexander Skriabin confirmed that emergency teams were extinguishing a fire on the tanker, which was hit while docked in a drone attack, and that there were dead and injured, though a leak of oil products was avoided. Parts of a high-rise apartment block under construction were also damaged in the city, and two private homes burned in a nearby town.
Separately, Russian air strikes on and around the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia wounded at least 32 people, local authorities said. The head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported that all wounded came from the city and its surroundings. Rescue services earlier said five children were among the casualties after Russian strikes hit a block of flats, a house, and an educational establishment on Wednesday. Firefighters were seen battling a blaze in a multi-storey housing block. Two people were also wounded in a Russian drone strike on a civilian car in Kushuhum, south of Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in Brussels on Thursday to convince European partners to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, despite Washington pressuring EU countries against the plan, according to an unnamed Ukrainian official. The European Union has laid out a plan to use frozen assets to harness €90bn ($105bn) for a loan to help Ukraine, with repayment coming from any eventual Russian reparations. Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been subject to a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by Russian intelligence aimed at persuading Belgium to block the use of €185bn ($217bn) in assets for Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies.
Zelenskyy said Russia was preparing to wage a new “year of war” on his country in 2026, after Vladimir Putin said Moscow would “certainly” achieve its objectives. The Ukrainian president reacted to Putin’s statement that Russia would seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its allies rejected Kremlin demands in peace talks. The UK has given its final warning to Roman Abramovich to release £2.5bn ($3.3bn) from the sale of Chelsea FC to give to Ukraine, telling the billionaire to release the funds within 90 days or face court action. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons that the funds would be converted into a new foundation for humanitarian causes in Ukraine.
