Overview
- Ukraine's General Staff reported an overnight Dec. 15 operation against the Astrakhan gas processing plant.
- Explosions were recorded at the site followed by a large fire, and the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
- Officials describe the facility as a key sulfur producer generating up to 3.5 million tonnes annually for explosives manufacturing.
- The military said such actions aim to reduce Russia's offensive capacity, as Russian regions reported drone incidents including a hit on a Belgorod thermal power plant.
- Russian authorities had not commented on the Astrakhan strike at publication, and independent verification of the impact was not available.