On January 18, 2025, Ukraine launched drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, targeting locations in Tula and Kaluga regions. Fires erupted at oil depots following the attacks. Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported a fire at a fuel and lubricants storage facility, which was extinguished within two hours. Five drones were intercepted over the region, with no reported casualties. Videos of the fire at the oil depot in the vicinity of Uzlovaya circulated on Telegram.
In Kaluga, Governor Vladislav Shapsha confirmed a fire at an industrial site in the city of Lyudinovo due to a drone strike. He noted that seven drones were shot down over the region, with debris from one falling on an uninhabited building, also resulting in no injuries.
Reports from Smolensk region indicated that five drones were destroyed, and local authorities confirmed no damage or casualties on the ground. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that a total of 46 drones were intercepted over various regions, including 18 in Bryansk, 11 in Kursk, and others in Kaluga, Tula, Belgorod, and Voronezh.
Meanwhile, operations at the Pokrovskoye mine in Ukraine's Donetsk region were suspended due to the advancing Russian military. The mine is the last operational facility in Ukraine for coking coal production, essential for the metallurgical industry. Reports indicate that Russian forces have entered the villages of Kotlino and Peschanoe, threatening the mine's infrastructure.
According to the mine's management, production ceased in early 2025 after electrical outages from shelling, and evacuation of equipment was completed on January 16. The mine previously supplied 66% of Ukraine's coking coal needs, but ongoing conflict has significantly reduced production capacity and workforce.
Industry experts predict a dramatic decline in steel production in Ukraine this year, potentially losing nearly half of the output, which could result in substantial economic losses. The situation is exacerbated by rising operational costs and reduced domestic consumption of steel.