Ukrainian drones target a Russian oil terminal in the Leningrad region. France will produce 78 Caesar howitzers for Ukraine this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overnight on January 18, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in Russia\u2019s Leningrad region, and some hit targets. The operation was conducted by the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine\u2019s Defense Ministry, Ukrainian news sites Ukrainska Pravda and Suspilne said, citing sources in the defense intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe operation was conducted by the Main Intelligence Department and included the use of modern Ukrainian drones. Data gathering continues, and there are confirmations that [some of the drones] hit targets. From now on, military sites in St Petersburg and the Leningrad region are within range of Ukrainian forces,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was not the first time that Ukrainian drones attacked the Leningrad region, a source in Ukraine\u2019s defense intelligence added. \u201cBut this time there are differences, and the enemy has felt them,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s Defense Ministry said Thursday that air defense systems shot down two plane-type drones over the regions of Moscow and Leningrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The drone strike on the Leningrad region targeted an oil terminal in the Baltic Sea, reports on Russian social media said. According to Russian news outlet \u201cShot\u201d, \u201cone of the drones fell at the terminal and caught fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another Russian news site, Baza, said there were three drones \u2014 two were allegedly \u201csuppressed by electronic warfare systems and fell into the Gulf of Finland,\u201d and one was \u201cshot down\u201d over the terminal at around 1:30 a.m. local time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDrone debris fell in an open area of a port\u2019s elevator between fuel tanks. The drone exploded, igniting a fire. The fire covered 130 square meters. The drones were launched from Ukraine and flew across the Bryansk, Smolensk, Tver, and Novgorod regions [more than 1,000 kilometers],\u201d it said on Telegram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The St Petersburg oil terminal is reportedly Russia\u2019s biggest oil transshipment facility in the Baltics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian authorities also reported a fresh missile attack on the city of Belgorod on Thursday morning. They said air defenses had downed all 10 Ukrainian missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France will be able to produce 78 Caesar self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to France Inter radio, French Armed Forces Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu said Caesar manufacturer Nexter had managed to halve the production time of the howitzer to 15 months meaning that some 78 units would be available this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, Ukraine has received 49 Caesar howitzers since the war started. France will buy the additional 12 using EUR 50 million from its EUR 200 million special fund for Ukraine, Lecornu said Thursday. In addition to the dozen that France will provide, Kyiv has bought six more expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. He called on Ukraine\u2019s other partners to \u201cshare the bill\u201d for the other 60 Caesars that will come out of the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lecornu said Kyiv had bought six howitzers for between three and four million euros each. He spoke at the launch of the so-called artillery coalition \u2014 a group of 23 countries led by France and the U.S., willing to think about Ukraine\u2019s long-term artillery needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More deliveries are promised. French President Emmanuel Macron this week said he would head to Ukraine in February to finalize a bilateral security guarantee deal and announced plans to supply about 40 additional SCALP long-range missiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi had a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI spoke with Emmanuel Macron to thank France for launching the artillery collation for Ukraine and committing to produce dozens of Caesars and ammunition for them in 2024,\u201d Zelenskyi said on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe discussed in detail the battlefield situation, Ukraine’s priority defense needs, including items for France\u2019s next military aid package, and the need to further strengthen Ukraine\u2019s air defense,\u201d Zelenskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He thanked French businesses for investment in Ukraine in wartime and their willingness to invest more. He also spoke of the preparations for the Global Peace Summit and a need for a wide participation in it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe directed our political and military advisors to prepare for President Macron\u2019s visit to Ukraine and to expedite negotiations on the bilateral agreement on security guarantees following the G7 Vilnius Declaration,\u201d Zelenskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n