Ukrainian forces struck the state-owned Russian oil storage facility "Kombinat Kristal" near Engels, Saratov region, on the night of January 7-8. According to a statement from the Ukrainian General Staff, the attack was aimed at hindering the logistics of Russian strategic aircraft based at Engels-2 airbase, News.bg reports.
Geolocated footage from January 8 shows a large-scale fire at the storage facility, and Russian sources report that the fire continues to burn until the morning. Saratov region Governor Roman Busargin confirmed that the strike caused the fire.
Ukrainian forces also struck the command post of the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army in occupied Khartsyzk, Donetsk region. The command post was used to coordinate operations in Kurakhovo.
In addition, Russian sources claim that a Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike on December 30 in the Kursk region caused losses among Russian military personnel.
Russia responded with a large-scale series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of January 7-8. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 64 Shahed drones from several regions, including Oryol and Kursk.
The Ukrainian defense forces shot down 41 of these drones, with the rest either downed by electronic interference or returned to Russian airspace. Debris from downed drones caused minor damage in the Kiev region.
The head of the Zaporizhia regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported that Russian forces carried out a bomb strike on an industrial facility in the city of Zaporizhia. Thirteen people were killed and at least 63 were injured.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced that Belarusian territorial troops are conducting military exercises from January 8 to 31. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), these exercises do not pose a threat to Ukraine.