During the night another explosion in Moscow claimed the lives of two officers and another person. The roar near the place where General Sarvarov was killed on Monday, while the two policemen were trying to stop a suspicious man who was wandering near a Russian law enforcement car. Meanwhile, the Kremlin Defense announced that it had shot down 172 drones in Kiev: some of these were aimed at the capital, others at a rubber factory.
Moscow: “172 drones shot down during the night”
During the night, Moscow’s air defense systems destroyed 172 Ukrainian drones. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported this, specifying that, of these, 110 were shot down in the Bryansk region. “Last night, 172 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by air defense systems in service,” the Defense Ministry said. One hundred and ten drones were shot down in the Bryansk region, 20 over Belgorod and 14 over the Kaluga region. Another 12 drones were destroyed in the Tula region and six in the Orel region. Four drones were shot down in the Moscow region, two of which were flying towards Moscow. Three were destroyed over Lipetsk and one each in the Volgograd, Kursk and Smolensk regions.
Explosion in Moscow, three dead: who are the victims
The two police officers injured in an explosion in the south of Moscow, near the place where General Sarvarov lost his life on Monday, have died. The agency reports it Tassspecifying that the suspect the police were stopping was also dead. The “incident” occurred while officers were busy stopping a suspicious person on Yeletskaya Street, following an explosion. The update on the night-time incident was reported by the press office of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. “According to the investigation, on the night of December 23-24, on Yeletskaya Street in Moscow, two traffic police officers saw a suspicious person near a police car. When they approached to stop it, a bomb exploded. Due to their injuries, two police officers and a person who was standing next to the police died,” the Investigative Committee said. Immediately after the explosion, which occurred around 1.30 in the morning, the area was isolated and patrolled by a large police contingent. The incident occurred near the site where General Fanil Sarvarov was killed on Monday by an explosive device that was planted under his parked car.
Explosion in Moscow, three dead
The toll from an explosion in Moscow is three dead: investigations underway. Local media speak of three victims, two officers and one other person. The episode in a street near the place where General Sarvarov was killed.
Mayor of Moscow, “Two drones shot down en route to the capital”
Two drones en route to Moscow were destroyed by the Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense system. The mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin made this known on his Max channel, reported by the Russian agency Tass. “Another drone en route to Moscow was destroyed. Emergency services specialists are working at the site of the fallen debris,” he wrote. According to data published by Sobyanin, two drones were shot down this morning. Also according to TASS, Russian air defense systems destroyed 172 Ukrainian drones in Russian regions overnight, the Ministry of Defense reported. “On-duty air defense capabilities intercepted and destroyed 172 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight: 110 on the territory of the Bryansk region, 20 on the territory of the Belgorod region, 14 on the territory of the Kaluga region, 12 on the territory of the Tula region, six on the territory of the Oryol region, four on the territory of the Moscow region, of which two were en route to Moscow, three on the territory of the Lipetsk region, one on the territory of the of Volgograd, one on the territory of the Kursk region and one on the territory of the Smolensk region,” the report reads.
Moscow, two officers injured in accident, investigations underway
Two police officers were injured in an “accident” in Moscow near where a top Russian general was killed this week. Russia’s Investigative Commission, which investigates serious crimes, said it was “investigating the circumstances of an accident in southern Moscow that injured two traffic police officers.” The statement on Telegram added that investigators were inspecting the scene and carrying out forensic analysis, including “medical and explosives assessments”. The area was cordoned off and guarded by a large police contingent, according to images broadcast by Russian television, which cited witnesses who described an explosion that occurred around 1:30 a.m. (10:30 p.m. GMT Tuesday). The incident occurred near the site where Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed on Monday by an explosive device that was planted under his parked car. Sarvarov had been head of the training department of the Russian General Staff. Since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Kiev has been blamed for several attacks against Russian military officers and pro-Kremlin figures both in Russia and in occupied areas of Ukraine. Kiev has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, but did not comment on Monday’s incident.
Drone attack in Zaporizhzhia, two injured
Two people were injured following a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia. Local authorities speak of guided aerial bombs. According to initial information, the attack targeted a residential building, which was damaged.
Media, “Drones against rubber factory in Russia in the Tula region, at least ten explosions reported”
In the Tula region of Russia, drones attacked the synthetic rubber company Efremov. According to Russian media, locals reported at least 10 explosions on social media. Rbc Ukraine reports it.
“Efremov… Tula region… reports of a glow in the factory area… locals heard 10 explosions,” read a post on a Telegram channel, which shows a video of the attack during which explosions are clearly audible. The firefighters rushed to the scene.
Last night the governor of the Tula region Dmitry Milyaev had warned of the danger of a drone attack in the region. Later, in the early hours of the morning, he wrote that the threat of drone strikes persisted.
The Efremov synthetic rubber company is one of the first producers of synthetic rubber and high molecular weight polyisobutylene in Russia, recalls RBC Ukraine, and in recent years, the plant has seen declining sales and profits, partly due to declining demand and changing market conditions
Explosions heard in Moscow where General Sarvarov died
The Reuters agency writes about “explosions” heard in the place where General Sarvarov died. There would be no official confirmation so far, but a witness speaks of a car bomb
Pope Leo XIV asks for a day of truce for Christmas
Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness at Russia’s apparent refusal to request a Christmas truce. “The things that cause me a lot of sadness these days – said the Pontiff as he left Villa Barberini – are that Russia has apparently rejected the request for a Christmas truce”. The Pope firmly relaunched his appeal for peace in Ukraine: “I once again make this request to all people of good will: to respect at least a day of peace on the day of the birth of the Savior. May there be a day of peace throughout the world”
Russia, arrest warrant in absentia for Kasparov
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow has issued an arrest warrant in absentia against the former chess champion, Garry Kasparov, defined as a foreign agent “for his calls to terrorism”.
“The court granted an accuser’s request to arrest Kasparov in absentia,” the court representative said. Kasparov is on the international wanted list. The court omitted details of the charges. Kasparov is charged in a criminal case with creating a terrorist network
Russia launched air attack against Kiev
Russia launched an airstrike in the early hours of yesterday against Kiev, the Ukrainian military said, just days after the conclusion of a US-led round of peace negotiations in Miami
Pope: “Saddened because Russia did not accept the Christmas truce”
Among “the things that cause me a lot of sadness these days is that Russia apparently rejected the request for a Christmas truce.” The Pope said this as he left Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo before returning to the Vatican. “I once again make this request to all people of good will: at least respect a day of peace on the day of the Savior’s birth. May there be a day of peace throughout the world”