What's happened
On December 21, 2024, Kazan, Tatarstan, experienced a significant drone attack, with eight drones targeting residential buildings and an industrial site. Local authorities reported no casualties, but flights were suspended and mass gatherings canceled. This incident follows a deadly Ukrainian missile strike in Russia's Kursk region the previous day.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Tatarstan's governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported that eight drones attacked Kazan, with six hitting residential buildings. He noted that emergency teams were deployed to assist affected residents. The Moscow Times highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack, stating that it directly targeted civilians for the first time in Kazan. Both sources agree on the lack of casualties, although there are unconfirmed reports of minor injuries. The Independent also pointed out that these attacks followed a deadly Ukrainian missile strike in Russia's Kursk region, indicating a potential escalation in hostilities.
How we got here
The drone attacks in Kazan mark a shift in the conflict, as previous strikes primarily targeted industrial sites. This escalation follows a recent Ukrainian missile attack that resulted in civilian casualties in Russia, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
More on these topics
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Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov is a Russian politician who has served as the second President of Tatarstan, a federal subject of Russia, since 2010.
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Kazan, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka rivers, covering an area of 425.3 square kilometres, with a population of over 1.2 million residents, up to roughly
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The Republic of Tatarstan, or simply Tatarstan, is a republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe. It is a part of the Volga Federal District; and its capital and largest city is Kazan, one of the most important cultural centres of Russia.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Oleh Vasylovych Synyehubov, is a Ukrainian, lawyer, attorney, scientist and entrepreneur who is currently the Governor of Kharkiv Oblast after being Governor of Poltava Oblast.
He is a doctor of law.