Ukraine says it hit Russian oil depot in western region

Ukraine's military says Russian aerial attacks have struck the capital Kyiv and other regions. (AP PHOTO)

Ukraine's military says its forces have hit a Russian oil depot in the western Smolensk region, setting fire to tanks storing oil products.

The Ukrainian general staff said on the Telegram app that the depot was used for military purposes.

It did not specify the weapon used for the strike but said it was carried out in co-operation with drone forces.

Smolensk region governor Vasily Anokhin said that the attack caused a fuel spill and fire.

According to his statement on Telegram, 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defences but the wreckage of one of them fell on the oil facility.

Ukraine has staged numerous attacks on Russian oil storage facilities and refineries.

According to the general staff, there were powerful explosions and thick smoke after the attack on the Smolensk depot.

Anokhin did not provide additional details but said the situation was "under control".

Ukraine's air force on Tuesday reported Russian aerial attacks that struck the capital Kyiv and other regions with multiple missiles and drones.

It reported a Russian ballistic missile threat at 3am, with at least two explosions heard in Kyiv minutes later. 

Another missile alert was issued at 8am followed by at least one explosion in the city. 

Missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district of the capital with no reports of casualties or damage, the local administration said.

Authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported strikes near the city of Shostka, where the mayor Mykola Noha said 12 residential buildings had been damaged as well as two educational facilities. 

He said some "social infrastructure objects" were destroyed.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that its forces had successfully struck a Ukrainian air base and a gunpowder factory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday in a New Year address that the country will move forward with confidence in 2025.

Putin paid tribute to Russian soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine, describing them as "true heroes" but did not refer in detail to the state of the conflict or make predictions for how the battlefield situation would evolve in 2025.

with AP

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