The suspect in the New Orleans vehicle attack has been identified as a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas. An Islamic State flag was found in the vehicle and two improvised bombs have been made safe. Also on the programme: Russian gas supplies to much of Europe through Ukraine have stopped, after Kyiv refused to renew a transit agreement with Moscow; and scientists have developed a new way of studying DNA in human remains that they say will change our understanding of history. (Photo: New Orleans Police Chief Ann Kirkpatrick speaks next to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry at a news conference. Credit: Reuters)
Month: January 2025
Russia started the new year with a massive drone attack on Ukraine. In response, the Netherlands will continue to support Kyiv, stated Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The Dutch Defense Minister said that Russia launched more than 100 drones toward Ukraine on the first day of the new year. According to him, this demonstrates Moscow’s continued aggressive policy against Ukraine.
Brekelmans noted that the Netherlands remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine. He also noted that Russia’s New Year’s attack is another confirmation of its true intentions for 2025.
According to the Minister, European countries should not only support Ukraine but also strengthen their own defense capabilities in the face of a growing threat.
“Continuously support Ukraine against Russian aggression. And at the same time, quickly and significantly strengthen our armed forces in Europe,” the Minister emphasized.
Attack on Ukraine
As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, Russia launched more than 100 drones at Ukraine on New Year’s night.
We also covered how drones were shot down over the capital on New Year’s night.
Read more about the aftermath of the January 1 attack on Kyiv in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the incident of a pickup truck driving into a crowd in New Orleans. He emphasized that violence, terrorism and any other threats to human life have no place in the world, according to the President.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is shocked by the news of the attack in New Orleans, which killed innocent people and injured many others.
He expressed hope that those responsible for this horrific attack would be brought to justice.
“Violence, terrorism, and any threats to human life have no place in our world and must not be tolerated. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish a swift recovery to all those injured,” the President added.
He emphasized that Ukraine supports the American people and condemns the violence.
Driving into a crowd in New Orleans
Today, on January 1, a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. It is known that 10 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
Media reported that police shot the driver when he got out of the car.
According to US President Joe Biden, the FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act. In addition, a flag of the ISIS terrorist group was found with the driver.
Russian military reported another attack by unidentified drones on the evening of Wednesday, January 1. Russian air defense systems were active in five regions, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to the hostile ministry, drones allegedly attacked Russia this evening. Between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM Moscow time, Russian air defense systems allegedly destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones.
Two drones were over the Belgorod region, four over the Voronezh region, five over the Rostov region, two over the Tula region, and one over the Oryol region.
Drone attacks in Russia
On the evening of Wednesday, January 1, the “carpet regime” was declared at the airport in the Russian city of Saransk. The reason was allegedly the threat of drones.
Additionally, in the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, a drone attack took place on the night of December 31.
Recently, the Russians also reported a drone attack. On the night of Tuesday, December 31, Russian air defense systems allegedly downed 68 drones.
Péter Magyar, an opponent of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, called for early parliamentary elections. So far, they are scheduled for 2026, Bloomberg reports.
“Let there be a new election, to return the right of deciding their fate to the people,” Magyar addressed Orbán in a New Year’s speech.
Bloomberg emphasizes that Orbán’s Fidesz party is losing ground in the ratings to Magyar’s new Tisza party, which was formed in April last year. Several polls conducted in the second half of 2024 showed that Tisza has a significant advantage over the ruling party.
As the agency reminds, support for Fidesz is falling as weak economic growth and high inflation have undermined confidence in Orbán’s management of the economy. The ratings were also affected by high-profile scandals involving the party. However, Orbán is counting on an economic recovery this year to boost his chances in the elections.
Magyar’s visit to Kyiv
On July 11, 2024, Péter Magyar visited Kyiv. At that time, he handed over medical equipment to hospitals in the capital against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Okhmatdyt.
Also in June, he emphasized that he opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine, but wanted to support the country by any other means.
Magyar also acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the aggressor.
As a result of a drone attack on the Yartsevskaya oil depot in the Smolensk region, two tanks containing gasoline and diesel fuel caught fire. The attack was carried out by Ukraine’s Defense Forces, according to the ASTRA Telegram channel.
According to ASTRA, the oil depot was allegedly attacked by 11 drones. As a result, two fuel tanks with a capacity of 700 cubic meters each were damaged. One contained gasoline, while the other held diesel fuel. The damaged tanks were reportedly not fully filled.
Additionally, there were allegedly no casualties from the attack, but residents of nearby houses were evacuated.
Explosions in the Smolensk region on December 31
Earlier, it was reported that a drone attack took place in the city of Yartsevo, Smolensk region, on the night of December 31. The governor of the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, stated that the fire at the oil depot occurred due to the fall of debris from a downed drone.
Later, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Special Operations Forces, in coordination with the Drone Systems Forces and other components of the Defense Forces, carried out a strike on the Yartsevskaya oil depot in the Smolensk region.
