Drones attacked the tanker QENDIL, belonging to the "shadow fleet of Russia" under sanctions, in the Mediterranean, reports Reuters citing the SBU.

Ukraine has expanded the geographical range of its attacks on the Russian shadow fleet and struck for the first time in the Mediterranean. According to Reuters, citing the SBU, Ukrainian intelligence services attacked the tanker Qendil, which was sailing under the flag of Oman and was in international waters southwest of Crete. The SBU described the operation as "new and unprecedented."

According to BILD, a Ukrainian civilian ship initially approached the tanker, from which a special unit of the SBU launched reconnaissance and combat drones that carried out the strikes.

Footage released by the SBU shows an explosion occurring on board. The SBU emphasized that the ship was empty at the time of the attack and was not transporting oil, which is why "the attack posed no threat to the ecological situation in the region."

The 249-meter-long tanker did not lose speed but turned around and is returning independently to Egypt, from where the ship came from India. The ship plans to reach the Egyptian port of Port Said in one day, on December 21.

In Kyiv, it was reported that such attacks are considered legitimate and their geographical range will be expanded.

So far, the main attacks on the Russian shadow fleet have taken place in the Black Sea using Sea Baby class sea drones. Bloomberg notes that Russian oil tankers began to avoid the coasts of Georgia and Turkey after a series of attacks to reduce the risk of strikes. This route is about 560 kilometers longer and increases the distance by nearly 70%.

At the press conference, Wladimir Putin was asked a question about the tankers. He replied that the situation in the oil market would not change as a result and that there would be a response.

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The US House of Representatives has passed a law that introduces criminal liability for doctors who perform gender reassignment surgeries on children and prescribe them puberty blockers.

If the package is approved by the Senate, "professionals" who carry out such surgeries face up to ten years in prison. The "Law for the Protection of Children's Innocence" also expands the powers of authorities regarding individuals who subject girls to female circumcision.

Now, not only the performers of the surgeries and the parents of the girls undergoing mutilating procedures are held responsible for coercion to "religious practices," but also everyone involved in the circumcision. The measure is presumably aimed at Islamic religious leaders who report on the “benefits” of female circumcision.

A week after taking office, US President Donald Trump signed an order that protects children and adolescents up to 19 years old from undergoing such procedures.

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Good morning, dear subscribers!😊☕️

❄️ Ussinsk celebrates New Year in the heart of the North – where winter is real, with frost, snow, and clear air. The city is near the Arctic Circle, and that alone makes the start of the year special here. At the end of December, the daylight is short, but the lights of the city are visible from afar, creating a festive atmosphere.

The history of Ussinsk is relatively young. It grew in the second half of the 20th century as a centre for the development of oil fields in Komi. The city was built quickly and under harsh conditions, and from the beginning, it was a place where much relied on people and mutual support. This character is still felt today – especially during holidays when the New Year celebration becomes a communal event for the entire city.

At New Year, Ussinsk noticeably transforms. The central streets and squares are decorated with garlands, light figures, and Christmas trees. The main Christmas tree of the city becomes a meeting point: families stroll around it, take photos, and simply stop to feel the festivity. Against the backdrop of snow and northern darkness, the light seems brighter and safer than in southern cities.

The folk festivals in Ussinsk are lively and energetically northern. Residents gather in open squares, music plays, and winter games, competitions, and sledding take place. Here, people do not fear the cold – on the contrary, the frost becomes part of the fun.

The Republic of Komi is the land of the indigenous people – Komi. In traditional culture, winter has always been an important time: a time of endurance, respect for nature, and living in harmony with its rhythm. Although the New Year in its modern form is a relatively new celebration, the idea of a change of time has always been understandable and close. What mattered were home, fire, shared meals, and the feeling of a completed cycle.

Today, these ideas are preserved in the festive spirit. The New Year celebration in Ussinsk is not just decorated streets and music, but also a sense of community. Here, the celebration is seen as a focal point amidst the long winter, as an opportunity to come together and move forward with confidence.

📍 Coordinates of the location (map point) available here

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