According to the reports on Tuesday (14 January), Ukraine launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Russian regions overnight, reportedly damaging at least two factories and forcing schools to close in Engels, a southern Russian city. Engels is home to an airbase housing nuclear bombers. Saratov Governor Roman Busargin confirmed the damage to an industrial site and announced remote schooling for students in Saratov and Engels. Russian aviation authorities imposed flight restrictions across multiple cities, including Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, home to the Taneco refinery. Reports of attack sirens at the refinery remain unverified.
The Shot Telegram channel reported that over 200 Ukrainian drones and five U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were intercepted by Russian forces. Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz noted a major missile attack but did not specify the type of missiles used. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not issued an official statement, and Reuters has been unable to confirm the extent of the damage or the attacks.
In retaliation, Russia conducted a test of its new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, “Oreshnik” (Hazel Tree), targeting Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin described the missile launch as a response to Ukraine’s strikes using U.S. and British weaponry. Putin warned of escalating tensions, stating that the conflict risked becoming global if Western nations continued to support Ukrainian military operations against Russian territory.
The war, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has caused immense devastation, leaving tens of thousands dead and displacing millions. It has also triggered a geopolitical crisis, straining Moscow’s relations with the West to levels unseen since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Amid ongoing hostilities, President-elect Donald Trump has called for a ceasefire and rapid negotiations, raising questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.
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