conflict

Three Killed in Russian Rostov Drone Attack

December 18, 2025 annahar.com
Three Killed in Russian Rostov Drone Attack

Three killed in a drone attack on the Russian Rostov region.

SUMMARY

A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Rostov region killed three people amid ongoing reciprocal attacks between Russia and Ukraine on infrastructure and ports, escalating tensions in the Black Sea.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Three people killed in a drone attack on Russian Rostov-on-Don.
  • Ukraine sends dozens of drones nightly towards Russian territory focusing on energy infrastructure.
  • Ukraine claimed responsibility for maritime drone attacks on Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea.
  • Russia regularly shells the Ukrainian port of Odessa, damaging Turkish transport ships.
  • Turkish President Erdoğan warned of the Black Sea becoming a confrontation zone.
  • Diplomatic efforts to end the war have so far failed to achieve a ceasefire.

CORE SUBJECT

Ukrainian drone attack on Russian Rostov

A drone attack targeted the Russian Rostov-on-Don region on the Sea of Azov, resulting in the death of three people, according to the regional governor Yuri Slyusar on Thursday.

Slyusar said on Telegram that "the attack caused a fire on a cargo ship at the regional capital's port, killing two crew members and injuring three others, while a civilian was killed and six others were injured in the nearby town of Bataisk adjacent to the port facilities."

He confirmed that the fire was brought under control.

In response to the daily shelling its territory has faced for about four years, Ukraine sends dozens of drones every night towards Russian lands, focusing its attacks on the energy infrastructure that allows Moscow to finance its offensive.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for maritime drone attacks against oil tankers linked to Russia in the Black Sea.

It has also attacked Russian ports including Novorossiysk, forcing a major oil terminal near it to suspend operations at the end of November.

Meanwhile, Russia regularly shells the Ukrainian port of Odessa, where Turkish transport ships were damaged in recent days.

These attacks prompted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to warn last week of the Black Sea turning into a "zone of confrontation."

In recent weeks, diplomatic efforts to end the war have accelerated following the announcement of a plan by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, but they have so far failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.

KEYWORDS

Ukraine Russia drone attack Rostov Black Sea energy infrastructure military conflict

MENTIONED ENTITIES 6

Yuri Slyusar

👤 Person_Male

Governor of the Russian Rostov-on-Don region

Rostov-on-Don

📍 Location_City

Russian region on the Sea of Azov

Novorossiysk

📍 Location_City

Russian port on the Black Sea

Odessa

📍 Location_City

Ukrainian port

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

👤 Person_Male

Turkish President

Donald Trump

👤 Person_Male

Former U.S. President