Day 1042 of the war began with an important announcement from the Security Service of Ukraine: for the first time in the world, a naval drone has destroyed an aerial target. The intelligence service reported that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by missiles launched by a Magura naval drone during a battle in the Black Sea.
Several explosions were heard on Monday evening and during the night in the city of Sevastopol in Crimea. The governor installed by Russia announced that there was an attack with Ukrainian drones, and the situation was under control.
On the other hand, an airstrike targeted Kiev this morning, but authorities reported that there were no fires or damages.
Across the border, a Ukrainian drone hit a petrol depot in the Smolensk region of western Russia, causing a strong fire.
The daily report of the Russian Ministry of Defense mentions that 68 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight by the Russian air defense, including 10 in the Smolensk region.
Furthermore, Ukraine is receiving significant aid from Washington. The United States announced a military and budgetary aid package worth nearly $6 billion for Ukraine.
– **[Link to original article](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/eveniment/ziua-1041-ucrainenii-au-distrus-un-cartier-general-ruses-video-slovacia-indeamna-kievul-sa-accepte-concesii-teritoriale-letonia-da-1-000-de-drone)**
### Situația pe front
– **Russian Helicopter Destroyed by Naval Drone** – The Ukrainian army destroyed a Russian helicopter using a Magura V5 naval drone equipped with missiles. It is the first time an unmanned vessel has destroyed an aerial target, announced the Security Service of Ukraine (DUI) on Tuesday. The intelligence service reported that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by R-73 SeeDragon missiles during a battle in the Black Sea, near Cape Tarhankut in Crimea, and released a video recording of the attack. Another similar Russian helicopter was hit but managed to reach its airfield, as mentioned by a source cited by Ukrainska Pravda.
– **[Tweet Link](https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1873993598108156329)**
– **Explosions in Crimea** – Several explosions were heard on Monday evening and during the night in the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The governor appointed by Russia announced that there was an attack with Ukrainian drones, and the situation was under control, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. According to messages posted on local Telegram channels, the detonations occurred near the Komisheva and Kozacea bays, as well as in Sevastopol.
– **[Source Link](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/12/31/7491426/)**
– **Russian Missile Strikes in Kiev and Northern Ukraine** – The air defense of Kiev repelled a Russian airstrike this morning, announced the military administration of the Ukrainian capital. Witnesses reported multiple explosions in Kiev after Ukrainian air forces warned of the risk of missile attacks across the country. According to initial information, missile debris fell on a private building in one of the city’s neighborhoods, stated the military administration of Kiev on Telegram. There were no fires, damages, or reported casualties. Additionally, an unidentified infrastructure was hit by Russian missile strikes in the city of Shchotka, in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine, authorities reported. Local Telegram channels reported explosions in the area.
– **[Source Link](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/12/31/7491463/)**
### What’s Happening in Russia
– **Petrol Depot in Flames** – A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire and a leak at a petrol depot in the Smolensk region of western Russia last night, according to the local governor. „Today, the air defense systems of the Russian Ministry of Defense repelled a Ukrainian drone attack in the Yartsevo district,” about 300 km from the border, wrote Vasili Anokhin on Telegram. „Preliminary information indicates that the wreckage of one of the drones fell into a petrol depot, causing a fuel leak and a fire,” added the governor. Emergency services are assessing the situation, he added, without mentioning any potential victims. In total, 68 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight by the Russian air defense, including 10 in the Smolensk region, which borders Belarus, according to the daily report of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
– **[Source Link](https://www.news.ro/flux/)**
– **[Tweet Link](https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1873939786760937910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1873939786760937910%7Ctwgr%5Edeb71b40b1c706d17eb5ce07601397511130ba41%7Ctwcon%5Es1_%26ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.ro%2Fflux%2F)**
– **Putin Takes the Beer** – Vladimir Putin placed the shares of the joint beer producer AB InBev in Russia under temporary administration, according to a decree published on a Russian government official website on Monday. Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest beer producer, had announced in April 2022 its intention to sell its stake in the joint company with Anadolu Efes, its Turkish partner, to exit the Russian market following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Russian authorities rejected the transaction earlier this year. The recent decree states that the shares in the AB InBev/Anadolu Efes joint venture were placed under the administration of the Vmeste group, an entity registered in Moscow last August. AB InBev is among several Western companies whose attempts to exit the Russian market have been blocked by local authorities.
– **[Source Link](https://www.news.ro/flux/)**
### Other Relevant Information
– **Dismissed Governors Amid Position Reshuffle** – Ruslan Kravchenko, the governor of the Kiev region, and Filip Pronin, the governor of the Poltava Region, were dismissed on Monday and are set to be appointed heads of tax and financial oversight commissions, reports Kyiv Independent. The move comes shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his team is „preparing some important personnel decisions” that will be „announced soon.” Kravchenko had held the position of governor of the Kiev region since April 2023, and Pronin was the governor of the Poltava region since October 2023.
– **[Source Link](https://www.news.ro/flux/)**
– **New Military Aid from the US** – The United States announced a new military and budgetary aid package worth nearly $6 billion for Ukraine. This is part of Washington’s efforts to support the country before Donald Trump takes office next month, according to AFP. The package includes a military „drawdown” of $1.25 billion, allowing the Pentagon to take weapons from US stocks and quickly send them to the battlefield. An additional $1.22 billion will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is purchased from the defense industry or partners. The latest aid includes drones, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), optically guided missiles, anti-tank weapon systems, air-to-ground ammunition, and spare parts, according to the US Department of State. The announcement follows the Treasury Department’s provision of direct budgetary support totaling $3.4 billion for Ukraine.
– **[Source Link](https://www.news.ro/flux/)**