During the night of December 18, the Governor of Rostov Oblast, Yuri Slyusar, reported explosions in Rostov-on-Don and the neighboring city of Bataysk. A vessel in the Rostov port was damaged by a drone attack. Local Telegram channels actively published photos and videos of the incidents. Slyusar noted that two crew members on the vessel were killed, and three were injured.
Alexander Skryabin, the mayor of Rostov-on-Don, confirmed that a vessel was affected, specifically an oil tanker located at one of the city port's docks. Preliminary findings show that an oil spill has been avoided. Local sources specify that it is the tanker "Valery Goncharov," built in 1969 and previously refitted for oil transportation.
In Bataysk, the explosions disrupted electricity supplies to some localities. Witnesses recorded rapid sounds followed by a column of smoke. According to eyewitnesses, Russian air defense made a mistake and did not manage to repel the attack in time.
At the moment, local authorities refrain from commenting on what exactly happened in Bataysk. After the attack, firefighting commenced in both cities due to the explosions. Information is being updated, and regional residents are urged to adhere to safety measures.
