Ukraine offers its gas storage facilities to Croatia

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković have discussed enhancing Europe's energy security through Ukraine's gas storage facilities.

Shmyhal highlighted Ukraine's storage capacity of 31 billion cubic meters, the largest in Europe, as a potential "gas safe" for the continent. He emphasized the prospects for Croatia to store its gas resources there.

This initiative aligns with Ukraine and Poland's ongoing efforts to create an Eastern European gas hub to supply the region with alternative, non-Russian gas sources.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile arsenal and oil pumping station in Tver Oblast in Russia

Ukrainian drones targeted the Andreapol oil pumping station and a missile arsenal in Tver Oblast overnight on Jan. 29, according to a source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).

The attack damaged the filtration pumping area and additive tanks of the station, part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 operated by Russia's state-owned Transneft. A fire and oil spill was reported, forcing Russia to shut down the main pipeline supplying the Ust-Luga terminal in Leningrad Oblast.

Drones also reportedly struck the 23rd missile arsenal of the Russian Defense Ministry, damaging the depot and three buildings.

Additionally, Ukrainian drones hit a Lukoil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, following earlier attacks on Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery, which suspended operations.

Ukraine views oil infrastructure as legitimate targets, citing their role in funding Russia's war efforts.

Russia creates separate regiments of unmanned systems to strengthen its army

Russia is forming specialized drone system regiments at the military district level to centralize and enhance its unmanned technology operations, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

A key development is the establishment of the 7th Separate Unmanned Systems Reconnaissance Strike Regiment within the Central Military District, staffed by 1,342 personnel as of April 2024. The unit includes strike and reconnaissance drone battalions, as well as support divisions for logistics, communication, medical, and repair functions.

Since July 2024, Russian volunteer groups have crowdfunded support for this regiment, which operates in occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has restructured informal drone detachments into "joint technical battalions" and established new unmanned systems detachments. Plans are underway to create similar regiments in other military districts.

Defence Minister Andrey Belousov announced that the Unmanned Systems Forces within the Russian military are expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2025.