Russia suffered overnight a massive explosion at a key ammunition factory, killing at least a dozen people and injuring seven. Workers were reportedly buried under the rubble at the Plastmass plant in Kopeysk, around 1,000 miles from Ukraine.
Drones had been reported in the vicinity, but the cause of the giant explosion and a second detonation is under investigation. Sabotage and negligence are also being probed. Emergency staff worked all night pulling bodies from the rubble, with fears the toll will rise. The plant – owned by the Kremlin’s state defence conglomerate Rostec – is believed to be making unguided aviation rockets and ammunition for artillery, as well as tank and self-propelled guns for use in the war in Ukraine. One witness told of three drones in the air and a worker “covered in blood” after the explosion.
In another major blow for Vladimir Putin, 50 of his soldiers surrendered to Ukraine around the village of Kucheriv Yar. “They raised their hands, white flags, and surrendered in batches,” said a Ukrainian paratrooper source.
The humiliation – seen on video – is in the Donetsk region that Mr Putin most wants to control.
More explosions rocked Russia overnight, with the Ryazan oil refinery – vital for fuel supplies for Moscow – igniting in flames after a strike by Ukrainian drones. Other explosions hit the Ryazan region as Ukraine targeted the military airfield Dyagilevo, which houses long-range Russian bombers.
The economy is already badly hit by spiralling petrol prices and fuel shortages in many regions.
Donald Trump’s decision on Wednesday to sanction oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil will only cause more problems for the Russian dictator.
US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said: “As long as Putin refuses to end this senseless war, we are imposing sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies that finance the Kremlin’s war machine.
“We call on allies to join these sanctions.”
Russia again struck at civilians in Ukraine, injuring seven in a night attack that damaged a synagogue and kindergarten in Kyiv. Multiple residential buildings were damaged in the onslaught. In Kharkiv, a firefighter was killed after emergency workers were attacked as they battled flames from a previous strike. Russia also hit a hydroelectric power station in Kamianske – the latest in strikes aimed at freezing the Ukrainian population during the cold winter.