According to media reports, Russian air defense may have shot down an Azerbaijani plane

Key developments on December 25th:

According to media, a Russian anti-aircraft missile may have shot down an Azerbaijani plane
Russia terrorizes Ukraine on Christmas morning with mass missile and drone attacks on the power grid
Ukrainian drones destroy Russian ammunition depot in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims
Ukraine approves the home-made Shchedryk aircraft for military use
According to the military, Ukraine is attacking the command post of the Russian Marine Infantry Brigade in Kursk Oblast
Zelensky says Japan will transfer $3 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

According to reports from independent Russian media, the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on December 25 en route to Russia may have been shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile.

The plane carrying passengers from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic crashed near the coastal town of Aktau in Kazakhstan.

There were 67 people on board the plane, including 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs and three Kyrgyz citizens. According to the latest information, 38 people died in the crash.

The potential use of air defense systems coincides with several media Reports Accordingly, Chechnya was attacked by drones on the morning of December 25th.

According to an independent Russian media outlet, footage from the plane shows traces of a large surface-to-air missile impact in the tail section of the plane Meduza. Similar-looking holes in the fuselage have reportedly been documented in numerous images and videos of military and civilian aircraft shot down by surface-to-air missiles.

According to the independent Russian newspaper Mediazona, survivors recalled hearing an explosion after failed landing attempts in Grozny. The aircraft then turned around and crossed the Caspian Sea towards Kazakhstan. While attempting to land at Aktau Airport, it broke upon impact and caught fire.

Meduza and Mediazona also cited pro-war Russian Telegram channels that showed photos of the crash that suggested the plane had been shot at.

Russia’s Federal Aviation Administration (Rosaviatsiya) initially claimed the plane had collided with a flock of birds, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. During the maneuver the aircraft “hit the ground”.

The black box was recovered from the crash site, Azerbaijani media reports reported. The analysis is expected to provide important insights into the events that led to the crash.

`Russia terrorizes Ukraine with mass missile, drone attack against energy grid on Christmas morning`

Russia launched a mass airstrike against Ukraine on December 25, targeting cities across the country with missiles and drones.

The northeastern city Kharkiv According to local authorities, it was among the most affected and came under “massive fire” from ballistic missiles. At least six people were injured, said Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Explosions were also reported in Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk. A rocket was also fired over Chernivtsi Oblast, which lies in western Ukraine on the border with Romania and Moldova, reported Governor Ruslan Zaparanyuk. There were no casualties.

According to the Air Force, Russia fired 78 missiles and 106 drones. According to the report, Ukraine shot down 55 Kh-101/Kh-55/Kalibr cruise missiles and four Kh-59/Kh-69 missiles, as well as 54 Shahed and other types of drones. Another 52 drones were “lost”.

“Any major Russian attack takes time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a conscious choice not only of the goals, but also of the time and date,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Several cities in Ukraine imposed emergency power outages following the attack.

`Ukrainian drones destroy Russian ammunition depot in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims`

Ukrainian long-range drones have attacked an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training area in Russia’s Rostov Oblast in recent days, a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source told the Kyiv Independent on December 25.

The Kadamovsky training ground near Novocherkassk Rostov Oblastis one of the largest in Russia. According to the source, the ammunition depot was completely destroyed by drones operated by the organization SGE.

“It was used by the enemy to supply his troops in the Kramatorsk sector (in Donetsk Oblast),” the source said.

“Now the Russians are experiencing significant logistical difficulties that significantly impact their ability to conduct combat operations.”

The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify these claims.

This is the latest of several attacks in Rostov Oblast reported in the past week.

Ukrainian drones targeted the town of Millerovo, which hosts a military airfield, on the night of December 24, said Yury Slyusar, the local acting governor. The Ukrainian Navy and the SBU also carried out a joint attack against Ukraine Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast on December 19.

`Ukraine approves homemade Shchedryk aerial vehicle for military use`

The Ukrainian-made Shchedryk unmanned aerial vehicle has been approved for military use, the Defense Ministry announced on December 25.

The Shchedryk The aircraft consists of a control station and remote-controlled aircraft with quiet electric motors.

According to the ministry, it has increased resistance to electronic warfare and may be tasked with monitoring the actions of Russian troops on the battlefield.

Shchedryk can operate day and night and perform tasks in strong winds, frost or heat.

“The aircraft’s capabilities and its optical equipment allow it to operate from an altitude that is difficult for most enemy air defense systems to reach,” said Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov.

Various air, naval and ground vehicles Drones been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat and other tasks during the all-out war with Russia.

Ukraine delivered more than 200,000 domestically manufactured drones Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the number of front-line units was reached so far in December.

`Ukraine hits Russian command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims`

Ukrainian troops attacked the command post of the 810th Guards Marine Brigade in the town of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Oblast overnight on December 25, the Center for Strategic Communications of Ukraine reported.

According to the military, the Russian command post was in an abandoned civilian building.

“This fire attack is part of a broader campaign to weaken the ability of the Russian armed forces to coordinate military operations against the Ukrainian people,” the statement said.

According to Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, Ukraine attacked civilian facilities and infrastructure in Lgov, killing four people and wounding five others.

Russian Telegram channels shared videos purportedly showing a damaged high-rise building and cars.

The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify these claims.

In August, Kursk Oblast became the scene of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops as Kiev captured dozens of settlements. A high-ranking General Staff official told Reuters reported in late November that Ukraine had lost over 40% of previously captured territory in Kursk Oblast.

Russia Over 10,000 soldiers were reportedly deployed North Korean Troops are supposed to help drive out Ukrainian troops. In late December, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the number of North Korean soldiers killed and injured had increased over 3,000.

`Japan to transfer $3 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, Zelensky says`

Japan is ready to provide Ukraine with an additional $3 billion from frozen Russian assets, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on December 25.

In a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Zelensky thanked Japan for Japan’s aid to Ukraine so far, which totals $12 billion and “made it possible to save thousands of lives.”

“I told Prime Minister Ishiba on Christmas night about Russia’s massive shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and thanked Japan for its willingness to work towards a just and lasting peace as quickly as possible,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine receive $1 billion from Japan and the United Kingdom through the World Bank’s Growth Foundations Development Policy Loan (DPL) program on December 24. The funds are intended for use in the social and humanitarian areas.

Meanwhile, Zelensky also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya his visit already in mid-November to Kyiv. The two allegedly discussed JapanGrowing concern over the reported presence of North Korean troops on the front line in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

Iwaya also underscored Japan’s determination to deepen its ties with Ukraine and highlighted plans to expand economic cooperation and impose additional sanctions against Russia.

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