Attack on Russian Ship Suspected of Carrying Iranian Drones; Ukrainian Army: We Used Cruise Missiles

Ukraine targeted a large Russian warship in Crimea with cruise missiles. Reports suggest this attack could hinder Russia's efforts to seize more territory in Ukraine along the Black Sea coast. Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday, December 26, citing the country's Ministry of Defense, that Ukraine used air-launched missiles to attack the port of Feodosia in Crimea, damaging the large transport vessel Novocherkassk. According to Reuters, at least one person was killed in the attack. Putin annexed Crimea to Russia in 2014, an act condemned by Kyiv and the West as illegal. Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, told Radio Free Europe that it is unlikely the Novocherkassk, capable of carrying tanks and armored vehicles and landing troops on land, will be used again. He described the explosion as very powerful, stating that the issue is not just the impact of a rocket on the ship, but also the explosion of munitions onboard. He noted that he could not confirm whether the Novocherkassk was carrying 'Iranian-made drones,' but emphasized that this possibility, as well as whether the ship was carrying munitions supplied by Russia's allies, cannot be ruled out. Ihnat stated that Ukraine used cruise missiles in this attack, although he did not specify the type of missiles used. Both the UK and France have supplied such missiles to Kyiv. Russia has indicated it may attempt to seize more territory in Ukraine along the Black Sea coast. Earlier in December, Putin claimed that Odesa, the base of the Ukrainian Navy, is 'one of Russia's cities.' Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US, EU, Canada, and Japan have expressed solidarity with Ukraine and provided extensive aid, imposing several broad sanctions packages against Putin's war machine and its supporters, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Russia has repeatedly used Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack various cities and regions in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently emphasized in an interview with Fox News: 'We have sent many messages to Iran not to supply drones [to Russia], not to give them permission to produce and build new drone manufacturing plants.' Meanwhile, US officials have warned that the Islamic Republic is preparing to send advanced short-range missiles to Russia. Concerns are rising in Europe; Belarus claims the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons is complete. Verification | Russia's claim about the deaths of 466 Americans in the Ukraine war is not true. Ukraine reported shooting down three Russian Su-34 fighter jets. The US is sanctioning financial institutions supporting the 'Russian war machine'; Moscow: 'We will cut relations.' Russia continues attacks on Kherson, Kyiv, and Odesa; Ukraine: We shot down 18 drones. Ukraine's plan to produce 'one million' reconnaissance drones. Putin says Russia is ready to discuss the future of Ukraine, but based on national interests. The UN criticized Russia for failing to protect Ukrainian civilians.