Estonia has imposed entry bans on 261 Russian nationals who fought in Ukraine, marking the first step in a broader campaign to restrict Russian veterans from entering the European Union. Foreign Minister Markus Tsahkna stated, 'This is only the beginning. We call on other countries to do the same.' The Baltic nation, which shares a border with Russia, has advocated for a Europe-wide visa ban on Russian combatants, garnering support from Baltic and Nordic countries.
Estonia's Interior Minister Igor Taro emphasised that the threat is 'not theoretical,' noting that these individuals possess combat experience and military training, and may have criminal backgrounds. The interior ministry declared that those who committed atrocities in Ukraine have 'no place in the free world.' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiga praised the move as a 'necessary security measure' and 'a clear signal that impunity will not be tolerated.'
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported striking a drone manufacturing plant in the western Rostov region of Russia, identified as the Atlant Aero plant at Taganrog, which produces Molniya strike and surveillance drones, as well as parts for Orion drones. The Russian governor confirmed a local state of emergency after two enterprises were hit, with video footage showing buildings ablaze.
In the Black Sea, two Greek-owned oil tankers were struck on Tuesday, though they sustained no major damage and no injuries were reported. The Maltese-flagged Matilda was en route to load Kazakh oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk when attacked. Ukraine has previously targeted the shared CPC terminal to reduce Russian oil revenue.
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, killing at least four people and knocking out heat and power across eight regions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles were used. Emergency power cuts were introduced in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions, exposing millions to dangerous winter cold.
