Despite sanctions and export controls, Russia continues to use Western technologies to manufacture its weapons, including the Oreshnik missile, the Financial Times reports.

It is noted that the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) and the Sozvezdie concern, which Ukrainian intelligence identifies as developers of this missile, are actively recruiting employees with experience working on Japanese Fanuc equipment and German Siemens and Heidenhain systems.

Journalists emphasized that job advertisements published by MITT and Sozvezdie in 2024 explicitly indicate the use of foreign numerical control systems (CNC).

At the same time, the Titan-Barricades plant, another participant in the Oreshnik project, was spotted using devices with the Fanuc logo.

It is reported that the Russian company Stan, which claims to develop domestic production, acknowledges the use of imported equipment.

The article noted that despite the Kremlin’s attempts to create domestic alternatives, Russia continues to depend on Western technologies in the metalworking sector.

Export controls imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have significantly complicated the supply of these systems. However, according to the Financial Times, Heidenhain components were still reaching Russia in 2024.

It is reported that the volume of such supplies is estimated at at least $3 million. Some of the equipment is likely imported through third countries, including China, which is a key supplier of metalworking equipment to Russia.

Russian Oreshnik missile

It should be recalled that on November 21, Russians launched the Oreshnik missile against the city of Dnipro for the first time during the full-scale war.

At the time, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated that this was a test of this type of weapon.

Later, during his so-called Direct Line, he again threatened to strike Ukraine with the Oreshnik.

However, both Ukrainian and Western experts claim that this Russian missile is not as serious a threat as Russia attempts to portray.

Previously, British intelligence analyzed the Oreshnik missile — more details in the RBC-Ukraine article.

Romanian radar systems detected a small flying object, likely a drone, which violated the national airspace up to 6 km inside the country, the Ministry of National Defense of Romania reports.

The ministry stated that the radar first detected the signal at 21:04 GMT on December 26, 15 km east of Chilia Veche commune in Tulcea County.

The authorities alerted the local population to seek shelter and began the procedure for calling in fighter jets, but the radar lost the signal at 21:09 GMT.

“We clarify that although combat aircraft were prepared to intervene within the prescribed timelines, the situation did not require their takeoff,” the statement said.

According to the report, there is no information about a possible targeted strike on Romanian territory.

“The forces and resources of the Combat Air Police Service, both from the Romanian army and those deployed by NATO countries on national territory, continuously monitor Romania’s airspace and its adjacent areas, ready to act at any moment, depending on the situation in the area of responsibility,” the ministry stated.

In October, the radar detected several signals of drones that had entered Romania’s airspace on different days. However, the fighter jets were unable to detect them, and no crash site was identified.

In addition, during the massive Russian attack on December 25, Ukraine informed the Romanian military leadership that at approximately 7:30 a.m., a Russian missile entered Moldova’s airspace. Afterward, it passed over the Romanian city of Darabani “for about two minutes.”

Monitoring groups reported that the Russian missile traveled 140 kilometers over Moldova and Romania.

However, the Ministry of Defense of Romania stated that the country’s air surveillance system, as part of the integrated NATO system, did not detect such a situation.

The Defense Forces eliminated three officers of the Russian army in the Zaporizhzhia region. The occupiers gathered for a meeting and were taken out by HIMARS, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).

“Three officers from the senior command staff of the Russian occupation forces were eliminated as a result of a successful operation by the Department of Active Measures of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, and the Tavriia Operational Group,” the statement reads.

Operation details

DIU personnel obtained information about a planned meeting involving officers of the command of the 4th Guards Military Base of the Russian occupation forces, participating in the war against Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region.

“After verifying and confirming the information, military intelligence officers developed an operation plan that involved the Tavriia Operational Group, the Unmanned Systems Forces, and the SSU’s tactical group Typhoon,” DIU noted.

According to intelligence, immediately after the field meeting of the occupiers began, a precision strike by HIMARS targeted the gathering of Russian officers and their vehicles. When the evacuation team of the invaders arrived, it was attacked by strike drones from Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces.

Who was eliminated

As a result of the operation, three officers of the Russian occupation forces were eliminated:

• Captain Dmitry Olehovych Nahornyi, commander of the 1st battalion of the 135th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces;
• Captain Hryhory Aleksandrovich Krokhmalov, deputy head of intelligence staff and chief of reconnaissance of the 135th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces;
• Captain Yurii Viktorovich Fomin, commander of the anti-aircraft battery of the 4th Guards Military Base of the Russian Armed Forces.

Additionally, five vehicles of the occupiers were destroyed.

Ukrainian strike on command post in Lgov

On the night of December 25, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the location of the command post of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade in Lgov, Kursk region. The enemy suffered losses among the officer corps.

In particular, as clarified later by the Defense Forces, up to 18 Russian military personnel, most of whom were staff officers, may have died in the strike on Lgov.