**Ukraine Hits Russian Missile Plant in Rostov Oblast**
The Ukrainian Air Force has struck a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky, Rostov Oblast, that produces solid propellant for ballistic missiles. This was reported by Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) on December 26.
**Russian Missiles Used to Attack Civilians**
These missiles are reportedly used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including hospitals, residential buildings, and power plants. Stratcom said the strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken Russia’s ability to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians.
**Recent Strikes in Rostov Oblast**
This is not the first strike on Rostov Oblast. On December 25, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground. On December 24, drones struck a military airbase in Millerovo. Earlier, on December 19, Ukraine’s Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out a combined strike on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery.
**Russia Strikes Market in Nikopol**
Russian forces have struck back. They hit the central market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with a drone on December 26, injuring eight people.
**Economic News**
Russia is struggling economically due to the war. Inflation has reached its highest levels in nearly a year, driven by war spending and rising food prices. Russian companies are increasingly using Bitcoin and other digital currencies for international payments in response to Western sanctions.
**US Response**
U.S. President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to “continue its surge” of weapons deliveries to Ukraine in response to Russia’s mass attack on Christmas Day.
**Casualties and Human Cost**
Over 1,600 Russian forces were killed or injured just over the past day. A Ukrainian poet, Oleksii Bezpaltsev, was killed in action while performing a combat mission in Kharkiv Oblast.
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