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Russia Launches Massive Air Assault on Ukraine as Kyiv Strikes Oil Refineries
Russia unleashed one of its largest air assaults in months on Saturday, firing more than 600 drones and missiles at nine Ukrainian regions, killing at least three people and wounding dozens. The strikes coincided with Ukrainian attacks on two Russian oil refineries, intensifying the cross-border conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow launched 619 projectiles in total, including 579 drones, eight ballistic missiles, and 32 cruise missiles. He accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.
“The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure.”
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 552 drones, two ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles were intercepted. However, some managed to break through, causing destruction in multiple cities.
In Dnipro, a missile carrying cluster munitions slammed into a residential high-rise, injuring at least 30 people, according to regional governor Serhii Lysak. Several other apartment blocks and houses were also damaged.
In Chernihiv, one person was killed and eight others wounded after a drone strike hit a vehicle. Emergency workers responding to the scene were also injured when a second attack followed minutes later.
Attacks were also reported in Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv, with authorities warning that casualty figures could rise as rescue operations continued.
Meanwhile, Ukraine struck back, hitting two Russian oil refineries in Saratov and Samara. Kyiv’s General Staff said the Saratovsky refinery alone processes over 7 million tons of oil annually, accounting for about 2.5% of Russia’s refining capacity. The Samara strike damaged a major transport facility used in supplying fuel to Russian forces.
“All affected facilities are involved in supplying the Russian Armed Forces,” the Ukrainian military said.
The strikes are part of Kyiv’s broader campaign to weaken Russia’s oil and gas industry, which President Zelenskyy has described as a vital source of funding for Moscow’s war.
The escalation came just a day after the European Commission proposed a new package of sanctions targeting Russia’s liquefied natural gas sector, financial institutions, cryptocurrency platforms, and shipping networks linked to its so-called “shadow fleet.”
Zelenskyy welcomed the EU’s move, saying it would “intensify pressure on Russia’s war machine” by hitting “the key engines of the war economy: energy revenues, finance, high-tech inputs, and the military-industrial base.”
Saturday’s events underline the deepening tit-for-tat between Moscow and Kyiv, with Russia intensifying its aerial bombardment while Ukraine ramps up strikes on energy infrastructure across the border. As winter approaches, both sides appear to be testing each other’s resilience — with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the escalating hostilities.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
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Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
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