Global Conflict Reporting

Category: Europe

  • Ukraine Continues Assault on Russian Oil Industry.

    Ukraine Continues Assault on Russian Oil Industry.

    Early this morning, Ukrainian drone forces launched an attack on the Rostov-on-Don region of Russia, starting a large fire at a facility connected to the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant (also called NZNP or Yug Rusi). The facility isn’t the refinery but instead a riverside oil-loading terminal used to store and pump oil to ships on the Don River or trains. The Don River feeds out to the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

    The facility mostly handles oil products from the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery, 46 miles to the north. This facility was also attacked back on September 25, 2026, and a large fire resulted from it. 

    Google Earth view showing the location of the Oil Refinery and the Oil-Loading Terminal.

     Videos circulating on multiple accounts on Telegram appeared to show large fires coming from the facility as well as thick smoke. 

    Ukraine has so far not taken credit for the attack. Russian authorities only admit that air defense was active this morning, but wouldn’t confirm damage to the site. 

    The location of the oil refinery can be seen below. It’s a large facility with room to grow. As mentioned before, the site has been targeted 5 times before, most recently on September 25, 2026.

    Google Earth image of the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant (NZNP)
    The Oil-Loading Terminal

    The site is one of the larger refineries in southern Russia. The facility processes 5.6 million tonnes of crude per year. The site mainly produces fuel oil (mazut), furnace fuel, marine fuel, diesel, and straight-run gasoline/naphtha.

    The Oil-Loading Terminal (shown below) sits almost 50 miles away on the River Don and handles loading onto trains and river barges. Products go to domestic southern Russian markets, military supply, and export (including via the Sea of Azov).

    Image shows the river loading terminal.

    This strike happened on the night of the day that U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media a deal made with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement said that Russia will supply diesel to global and U.S. markets to help reduce fuel prices, leading to a temporary lift of US sanctions on Russian fuel.

    Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy argued that the deal would not help in achieving peace and would instead allow Russia to continue its aggression. Even many of Trump’s fellow Republicans have condemned this agreement, the details of which can be seen in Trump’s post below.

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post announcing the deal with Russia.

    Most of the criticism of the deal stems from the low amounts of product actually being sent. Energy analysts and experts have said that the U.S. alone uses approximately 3.6 million to 3.9 million barrels of diesel a day (or roughly 414,000 tonnes), making the first shipment enough to cover one single day of U.S. use. The other shipments are larger, but the whole deal total only covers 3-4 days of America’s diesel needs. 

    This deal reverses many of the sanctions put on Russia, at least temporarily. It gives Russia financial relief at a time when Ukraine feels pressure is more important.

  • Five Arrested Near RAF Fairford as Counter-Terror Police Investigate Suspected Explosives Plot. (Updated)

    Five Arrested Near RAF Fairford as Counter-Terror Police Investigate Suspected Explosives Plot. (Updated)

    U.S. B-1B at RAF Fairford

    On the morning of September 27th, 2026, Gloucestershire police arrested five men that police believe to have been attempting to break onto RAF Fairford, currently home to a number of US B-1B Lancer bombers. 

    The men were stopped several hundred meters from Crash Gate 6A. Close to the base but not on it, as some reporting has suggested.

    A major incident was declared after the arrest. About 85 households in Whelford were evacuated to a nearby leisure centre, and a 400-metre cordon was placed around the vehicles while the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal team examined them. Officials said they believe the incident is contained. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation into the men and their motives. 

    Image from local writer Andy Ambrose, taken the morning of the incident.

    “I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking youngguys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past,” a local farmer told the Daily Telegraph. She continued, “Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base… I mean, you don’t see masked men running around at half one in the morning in the countryside near a secure air base and not have concerns.”

    The local preferred to stay anonymous for safety reasons. 

    Overview of the base area as well as the location of the men’s vans which police are searching.

    The men were apprehended outside of the base under the Explosives Act, with EOD examining their vehicles. Broadcast aerial footage from CNN and others has shown EOD robots removing large black items from the back of the van; however, police have not yet confirmed their contents. Other outlets have reported chemicals/explosives, but that hasn’t been confirmed anywhere yet. 

    Image reported to be taken of the suspects after they were apprehended.

    RAF Fairford is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing and has been used by U.S. bombers for missions against Iranian missile infrastructure after London authorised that use earlier in the conflict. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson at the base told CNN that, for operational security reasons, the service would not discuss specific force protection measures. Photographs from Sunday showed at least one B-1B on the tarmac.

    While a motive has not been established, U.S. President Donald Trump said the suspects were “looking to do big damage” and had been “under view for a long time.” However, multiple UK reports contradict this and say the operation to apprehend the men was not intelligence-led and rather started when a member of the public called 999 and voiced their suspicions and concern. Local detectives are reporting that they are investigating any link to Iran, but officers have declined to comment on origin or sponsorship. This is a natural line of question given the base’s importance in U.S. operations during the conflict with Iran, with U.S. bombers flying strike missions from RAF Fairfield to Iran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier warned that any base used for attacks on Iranian territory would be treated as a legitimate target. Since that threat, the base has been under a heightened security posture. 

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the situation would be deeply concerning for local residents and urged the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.

    This image shows the EOD robot removing items from the vans that police have identified as belonging to the suspects.

    Update 09/28/2026

    According to the British police, the five men that were arrested were all British nationals from London and all in their early 20s. This morning, they were released on bail pending the completion of the investigation.

    “Thanks to the excellent work of the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team, the scene is now safe, and the residents of Whelford will shortly be returning home,” British interior minister Shabana Mahmood said.

    While nobody has come out and said it, it appears from the wording in the quote above that explosives were discovered at the scene and later handled by the EOD; however, that hasn’t been confirmed yet.

    An investigation is now ongoing to determine if these individuals were acting for a foreign state, unknowingly or else. A common tactic used by intelligence agencies has been to outsource intelligence work by making content with people inside of a country, and then paying them for whatever task they need done. The task starts as things somebody wouldn’t question like delivering a package or taking a picture, and they see how far they can get you to go as the task gets more and more complicated and/ or illegal. There are documented cases of Russia using this tactic in Ukraine and Poland as part of their ongoing hybrid warfare campaign. There is no current connection to Russian intelligence; however, it could be that UK authorities believe a page has been taken out of Russia’s playbook.

    This page will be updated when further information is released.

    Some other great articles from across the web.

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/raf-fairford-nine-things-know-37708487

    https://theaviationist.com/2026/09/27/major-incident-raf-fairford/

  • Russian Baltic Sea Fleet Ship Struck Near St. Petersburg.

    Russian Baltic Sea Fleet Ship Struck Near St. Petersburg.

    Satellite images and video shows the damage after yesterday mornings’ attack on the Russian warship Boikiy, a Project 20380/Steregushchiy-class Corvette in the Baltic Sea Fleet. The ship was attacked during a large Ukrainian drone wave that struck St. Petersburg and the Kronstadt naval base that’s nearby. The ship was struck twice in videos released by Ukraine. Video released later on shows fire crews battling a large fire near the center of the ship.

    Link to GCR video showing attack on Boikiy.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17kiH9TZpN

    The ship was in drydock at the Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg. It has been there since February of this year receiving routine maintenance and repairs.

    This ship is thought of by maritime experts as one of Russia’s most modern warships. it serves as a multipurpose corvette mainly designed for littoral zone operations, engagement of enemy submarines and surface ships, and gun support of landing operations.

    The ship carries a crew of 100 and displaces around 2,200 pounds. Its size has given it the classification of a “Frigate” in western navies as it’s a little bit bigger than what is generally considered to be a corvette.

    While its size is on the small side its armament is anything but. It has a weight provision eight SS-N-25 missiles (KH-35) (NATO reporting name AS-20 ‘Kayak’) a Turbo-jet subsonic, anti-ship missile. After the first ship in the Steregushchiy was built the CIWS system was removed and replaced with x12 Redut VLS Cells loaded with 9M96E2 missiles (Used in the S-400 anti air system).

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  • Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Overnight on May 23-24 2026, at least four people were killed and 100 wounded in one of the largest Russian air attacks in years. While strikes were launched across multiple regions, the main target was clear: the capital, Kyiv.

    Video shows moments from the Russian attack on Kyiv.

    The city was hit with multiple Kh-101/Kalibr cruise missiles, Shahed drones, and ballistic missiles. After 1 a.m., explosions rang out across Kyiv following a warning from the United States and Europe that Russia might launch one of its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles. This was not only one of the largest recent attacks — it ranks among the largest of the entire war with 90 missiles (including 36 ballistic) and an estimated 600 drones being used in the attack.

    Russian Tupolev TU-95 (NATO: Bear) carrying KH-101 (NATO: AS-23 “Kodiak”) Cruise missile.
    Video of the Oreshnik strike.

    Videos from Bila Tserkva, a city roughly 40 miles (64 km) from Kyiv’s outskirts, captured the Oreshnik strike. It is not yet known what, if anything, was damaged or why that area was targeted in specific. Although the attack looked dramatic, the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was designed primarily as a nuclear delivery system. It is very similar to Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh (NATO: SS-X-31), which was test-fired a handful of times but never fully fielded. Both missiles are equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). These break apart into six individual submunitions during the exo-atmospheric flight phase, allowing them to strike separate targets — a capability ideal for delivering multiple nuclear warheads.

    Some information of the Russian Oreshnik missile.

    In its non-nuclear form – which lacks any conventional warhead and relies solely on kinetic energy – the Oreshnik has so far proved to be more of a threat than a practical battlefield weapon. Nuclear weapons experts have described its accuracy as “good enough to deliver a nuclear weapon, but not enough to deliver conventional weapons effectively.” Last night marked the third known use of the Oreshnik. It was deployed on November 20 2024 to hit Ukraines PA Pivdenmash facility in Dinipro, and again earlier this year on January 6 to hit the city of Lviv.

    The hours-long attack sent Kyiv residents huddling in subway tunnels and other designated bomb shelters as Russia appeared to fire missiles at random. Russian Telegram channels shared a photo of a damaged apartment block and claimed it was the headquarters for the entire Ukrainian Army. One area hit particularly hard was the Lukyanivka district, north of Kyiv’s city center. That district is home to a missile production plant that has been targeted multiple times during the war. Apart from those specifics residential buildings, a market that burned down several schools, and a water supply facility along with damage reported in dozens of other locations across multiple districts.

    “It’s important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia…“Decisions are needed – from the United States, from Europe and others.”

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app, urging international action.

    Ukraine’s Western allies have described the use of an IRBM as an escalation. Germany and the UK condemned the attack, while Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, accused Moscow of “a political scare tactic and reckless nuclear brinkmanship.”

    Russia described the attack as retaliation for an attack they claim targeted student dormitories, among other recent Ukranian drone strikes. Ukraine says that they only strike “military and military supporting infrastructure.”

  • Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tanker Seized in the Mediterranean.

    M/T Grinch (IMO:9288851)

    By. Scott Jackson

    01/22/2026

    Today French forces seized a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker that was sailing in the Mediterranean. The vessel, an oil tanker flagged from Comoros called ‘Grinch’ (IMO:9288851) was seized in the Alboran Sea, in the Western Mediterranean. The Grinch was boarded on suspicion of flying a false flag, as well as being under international sanctions. 

    French investigators onboard the Grinch.

    The operation was carried out in partnership with UK forces who provided intelligence. 

    “The operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean, with the support of several of our allies. It was carried out in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

    French President Emmanuel Macron said after the Grinch was seized.

    He also said 

    “We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” Macron explained. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”

    The operation was first announced with a press release from the French Navy

    French Navy  press release translated below. 

    “On January 22, 2026, French Navy assets intervened on the high seas, in the Alboran Sea, on the cargo tanker GRINCH, en route from Murmansk, Russia.

    Conducted on the basis of Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this operation aimed to verify the nationality of a vessel suspected of flying a false flag.

    After the boarding team, the examination of the documents confirmed the doubts regarding the validity of the flag being flown. A report was filed with the Public Prosecutor in Marseille, who has jurisdiction under the maritime court

    In accordance with international law and at the request of the public prosecutor, the vessel was diverted on January 22 and is currently being escorted by French Navy vessels to an anchorage for further investigations.

    This action, carried out in cooperation with our allies, including the United Kingdom, illustrates the unwavering commitment and determination of France and its partners to uphold international law.”

    End translation. 

    Last recorded position of the Grinch.

    The “shadow fleet” operated by Russia has received a lot of attention in the past,but even more so in the past couple months as both European and U.S. forces have seized multiple vessels suspected of being used to transport Russian oil. These ships are know for using clandestine means and  “deceptive shipping practices” to bypass international sanctions put on Russia for its war in Ukraine. 

    These ships, while called a “shadow” or “dark” fleet operate in the open, with multinational crews (sometimes even carrying Ukrainian crews) using aging ships with many of them being bought for exorbitant prices from the same western nations that sanction Russia in the first place . These ships will use techniques like changing their name and flag to avoid tracking by investigators and law enforcement. 

    Western powers are taking a stronger stance against Russia’s shadow fleet and Russia is responding, on Monday Russia sent the Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy to escort one of its tankers through the English Channel. 

    Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy

    The UK especially has signaled its willingness to step up the fight against these ships, specificly as a joint effort. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper saying to Politico “We stand ready to work with allies on stronger enforcement around the shadow fleet,” 

    She also didn’t rule out using the oil seized from these tankers to support Ukrainian war efforts. This gives Russia two choices, risk having their oil money being used to find their enemies or having their oil storage depots sit full. Neither option is ideal especially as Ukraine continues to target Russian oil depots with drones and missiles. 

    It’s possible that western actions against Russia’s shadow fleet could become a large flashpoint between Russia and western nations, especially if Russia responds to increased pressure with force, bringing the two sides to conflict.  

  • U.S. forces seize two tankers, one in the Caribbean and one in the Atlantic.

    By. Scott Jackson

    01/07/2026

    This morning U.S. forces have seized two tankers. The first, the M/T Marinera (formerly the M/T Bella-1) is a tanker that fled from U.S. forces while trying to get to Venezuela late last month. It has been tailed by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter since around December 17th and was taken somewhere between the UK and Iceland. The second ship is the M/V Sophia which was seized in the Caribbean.

    The seizure of the Marinera doesn’t come as a surprise as a number of analysts, experts and people interested in world events followed along as the U.S. moved Special Forces assets to the UK and the ship attempted to evade U.S. forces for several weeks. It has been under near constant surveillance since it fled from US forces while trying to enter Venezuela in December.

    On social media the U.S. European command put out a statement that said “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”

    The USCGC Munro is a Legend-Class National Security Cutter.

    USCGC Munro, photo taken from the deck of the Bella-1 several days ago.

    The armed forces in the United Kingdom had a large part to play in the operation including offering basing support to U.S. forces and deploying RFA Tideforce, a Tide-class tanker to the area. 

    RFA Tideforce

    The Marinera is being accused of international sanctions evasion. As UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP said “ This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.” 

    Map of the known course of the Marinera since August.

    Specifically the Bella-1 is sanctioned by the U.S. under its counter-Iran sanctions, sanctions attempting to curtail Iran’s efforts of destabilizing the Middle East. 

    Efforts the ship took to change and hide its identity and throw off its pursuers show that the ship is well connected to the international fleet of shadow ships. The ship already had a Russian flag onboard, likely in case of a scenario like this, or from potential cases in the past where it had changed its identity. 

    Two images taken from the Marinera show a little bird helicopter from the 160th Nightstalkers as the US prepared to board the ship.

    The Russian’s had reportedly sent a several warships including a submarine to escort the tanker to Russian waters however they never intervened during the seizure. L

    A statement from the Russian Ministry of Transport.

    As far as the M/V Sophia. All we know is that the U.S. seized the ship as it was trying to leave Venezuelan waters with its transponder off, attempting to conceal its location. The ship is not registered to any state and was said to be conducting “illicit activities” in Caribbean waters. Its reported destination was China.

    I’ve included the video that was shared of the seizure of the M/V Sophia by the U.S.

    If you have any information about this article or any others. Email me at

    GlobalConflictReporting@Proton.me

    Shoutout to my buddy Andy who was emailing me about this situation this morning as I was getting woke up. I was able to be halfway informed before I even knew anything was going on.

  • Russian shadow fleet ships attacked in the Black Sea.

    By. Scott Jackson

    11.29.2025

    Today Ukraine announced that its military had launched attacks on two sanctioned Russian Oil tankers operating in the Black Sea. 

    The ships, identified as the Gambian-flagged Kairos and Virat were empty at the time of the attacks and it is reported they were heading to the Russian city of Novorossiysk, a major port and oil hub for Russia especially in the Black Sea region. 

    Tanker Virat after the attack. Mostly minor damage on this ship.

    During an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu,the transport and infrastructure minister for Turkey, said the attacks took place within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

    The Russia shadow fleet oil tanker Virat stopped near Turkey after it was attacked by Ukranian sea drones.

    This attack is being reported by Ukraine as a joint operation between the SBU’s 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence with the Ukrainian Navy. The operation was carried out with Ukrainian “Sea Baby” drones which can travel long distances.

    Video of the events were relesed across social media.

    Russia’s shadow fleet

    Both ships attacked have been under sanctions by the UK and European Union. However these two ships and the many more like them continue to find Russia’s nearly four year long war. They continue to haul Russias crude oil and funnel money to Moscow, fueling Russias economy.

    “The Russian shadow fleet has become almost a tumour on global shipping,” said Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative.

    “The shadow fleet has grown exponentially, and Western governments have tried sanctioning specific vessels … but every time that happens, another vessel enters the shadow fleet.”

    These Russian shadow ships often carry “flags of convenience” often being flagged in places with little knowledge or experience in maritime affairs, places like the Gambia and Cook Islands.

    Ships that’s are sanctioned have no access to western ports and personnel. They are barred from trading from many nations however are still able to find buyers in China and even in Europe. Some European nations still buy Russian gas and oil either directly or through a third party.

    The Russian shadow fleet is made up of as many as a reported 1500 ship as of 2024 highlighting the ineffectiveness of the western sanctions to slow the flow of Russian oil. This is one reason why Ukraine has taken such an interest in targeting Russian oil production choosing instead to attempt to stop it at its source.