**Ukraine Targets Russian Oil Refinery**
On December 19, Ukraine’s Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a combined strike against the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that the attack occurred overnight.
The Novoshakhtinsk facility is the only oil refinery operating in the region, producing up to 7.5 million tons of oil products annually. Russian authorities and Telegram channels reported explosions and fire at the facility earlier in the day, blaming a Ukrainian drone attack.
According to an SBU source, drones initially attacked the facility to distract Russian air defenses, providing a “window” for Ukrainian-made missiles to strike the refinery. The strike resulted in a massive fire and caused significant damage, said the source.
**Damage and Response**
The fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery had been extinguished by 6:45 a.m. local time, according to Yuri Slyusar, acting governor of Rostov Oblast. One person was reportedly injured in the region due to falling drone debris.
The fire also affected the refinery’s ELOU-AVT-2.5 catalytic cracking unit, said the General Staff. Ukraine has previously targeted the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery with drone strikes, including a July attack that destroyed 1.5 million tons of oil and oil products worth $540 million.
**Other Developments**
Meanwhile, at least 100 North Korean troops have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, according to South Korea’s lawmaker. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 45 of the 85 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles launched overnight.
In Brussels, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on December 18 to discuss securing more air defense as well as effective security guarantees from Western allies. Ukraine is discussing ideas with European leaders on deploying European peacekeeping forces to the embattled country.