On June 18, 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack targeting oil storage tanks near the town of Azov, in southern Russia's Rostov region. Confirmed by a Ukrainian defence source, the attack caused significant fires, with video footage showing extensive damage. The attack has ongoing repercussions, including approximately 200 firefighters and emergency personnel working to control the blaze.
In a related incident on June 19, a Russian drone strike in Lviv, western Ukraine, injured a 70-year-old man and damaged a residential building. Both incidents highlight the continued instability in the region amid the ongoing conflict.
On a separate note, Ukraine's prosecutor general has accused Russian forces of beheading a Ukrainian soldier in the Donetsk region. Nearly 130,000 war crimes have been documented according to Ukrainian officials.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea for a summit with Kim Jong-un, underscoring strengthened military and economic ties amid shared tensions with Western nations. This visit follows reports of North Korea supplying arms to Russia, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.