Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
A Ukrainian drone strike has caused a major fire at the largest oil depot in occupied Crimea, forcing local Russian officials to declare an emergency.
The Ukrainian military confirmed it struck the Feodosia facility overnight and said it was being used to produce oil products for the invading Russian army.
Several fuel tanks were engulfed in fire after people in Feodosia heard a series of loud explosions, reported the Baza Telegram channel, which claims to have sources in Russia’s security services.
Meanwhile, Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin was killed fighting alongside Kyiv’s forces in Ukraine, officials and his family said.
His death was also reported by the Ukrainian group that recruited him, stating that “he was and he remains a hero”. Dadin was imprisoned by the Russian authorities in 2015 for organising peaceful solo protests against political repression.
The news of his death came as the Netherlands confirmed that it had sent a first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The planes are already operating in Ukrainian airspace, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said during a surprise visit to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s military says it struck Crimea oil terminal
The Ukrainian military said it struck an oil terminal in Russian-occupied Feodosia in Crimea overnight where a major explosion has been reported.
“The Feodosia terminal is the largest in Crimea in terms of transshipment of oil products, which were used, among other things, to meet the needs of the Russian occupation army,” Ukraine’s military said, claiming responsibility for the attack on the peninsula.
Russian fighter plane shot down over Donetsk is a Hunter S-70 combat drone, reports
Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province.
It has now emerged that it was a prototype of Russia’s Hunter S-70 combat drone, according to local Ukrainian media.
According to reports, the drone was shot down either due to a loss of control or deliberately after it malfunctioned during the test flight.
Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, called the incident a “stunningly embarrassing failure” for Russia.
Russia announces ‘technical’ emergency over Crimean city
Russian-appointed officials have announced a state of “technical” emergency has been introduced in Crimean’s Feodosia city this morning.
This comes within hours of a major explosion at an oil depot on the Crimean coast of the Black Sea. The authorities did not provide details on what had caused the fire.
Several fuel tanks were reported to be on fire in Feodosia after residents heard a series of loud explosions, reported the Baza Telegram news channel, which has sources among Russia’s security services.
The attack could likely be caused by a Ukrainian drone as Russia’s air defence units confirmed aerial activity over Crimea.
At least 21 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight, the Russian defence ministry said. Of these, 12 drones were destroyed over the Crimean Peninsula, six over the Kursk region and the rest over the Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh regions.
Exiled from Russia centuries ago, a religious group is on the edge of vanishing in Georgia
Exiled from Russia centuries ago, a religious group is on the edge of vanishing in Georgia
Members of a pacifist Christian sect that emerged in 18th century Russia were exiled to Georgia about 200 years ago for refusing to serve in the tsarist army and rejecting orthodox rituals
Putin receives wishes for 72nd birthday: ‘God save the Tsar!'
“God save the Tsar!” was one of the first public birthday wishes for President Vladimir Putin who turns 72 today and who has been Russia’s paramount leader for nearly quarter of a century.
The greeting came from ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin on his Telegram channel minutes after midnight.
Mr Dugin, 62, has long advocated for the unification of Russian-speaking and other territories in a vast new Russian empire, which he wants to include Ukraine, where Russia has been waging a war. Mr Dugin’s daughter was killed in a suspected car bomb in 2022.
The Russian president was also wished by his close ally and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. “Today, friends, is the birthday of our national leader,” Mr Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic who calls himself Putin’s “foot soldier”, wrote in a congratulatory message on Telegram at midnight today.
“This is a significant day for our entire Fatherland.”
Fire breaks out at oil depot in Crimea
An oil depot is engulfed in a major fire after an explosion in Crimea’s Feodosia city, Russia-appointed officials in the peninsula said this morning.
Oleg Kryuchkov, advisor to the head of Crimea, said there were no casualties. Russian officials generally do not disclose the full extent of the damage suffered in strikes and explosions. He did not provide details on what had caused the massive explosion.
Unverified photos and videos of the fire in Crimea shared on social media showed a swathe of the oil depot ablaze. A thick cloud of smoke was billowing from the affected area and could be seen from kilometres away.
Watch: Putin wants to erase Ukraine by stealing our children, Ukrainian tennis pro Svitolina warns
First F-16 jets from Netherlands arrive in Ukraine
The Netherlands has sent its first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Dutch defence minister said.
“For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine,” defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said on X. He did not mention how many planes have been shipped to the war-hit nation.
The first batch of planes from the Netherlands is already operating in Ukrainian airspace, according to the minister, while the others will be delivered “in the upcoming months and maybe beginning of next year.”
He paid a surprise visit to Kyiv yesterday and said that his country will invest €400m ($334m) in advanced drone development with Ukraine and deliver more F-16s in the coming months.
Kremlin critic Ildar Dadin killed fighting for Ukraine
Well-known Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin has been killed while fighting in Ukraine alongside Kyiv’s forces, officials and his family said.
“It is with deep regret that I must inform you that Ildar Dadin – call sign Gandhi – died yesterday in combat in the Kharkiv region” in northeast Ukraine, his friend and former Russian MP Ilia Ponomarev said on Facebook. His friend hailed Dadin as a “fearless and determined fighter” who had gone “to the front to fight Putinism”.
His death was also confirmed by the Ukrainian group that recruited him, stating that “he was, and he remains a hero”.
Dadin was imprisoned by the Kremlin authorities in 2015 for two and a half years in prison for organising peaceful solo protests against political repression.
He went on a hunger strike immediately after he was placed in a punishment cell. Dadin was then tortured by his prison guards in attempts to force him to end his hunger strike.
Pictured: Ukrainian investigators at wreckage of downed Russian S-70 ‘Hunter’ drone
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments