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https://www.kyivpost.com/post/45978
Massive SBU and SSO Drone Strikes Hit Ryazan Oil Refinery, Triggering Fires and Airport Closures in Russia
Updated January 24, 2025, 13.55 pm
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) confirmed on Facebook that SBU and SSO drones have attacked several Russian facilities involved in supplying the Russian military.
The General Staff also verified the destruction of the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk, a key enterprise in Russia’s microelectronics industry.
The plant manufactures a variety of microcircuits and components critical for strategically significant weapons systems, including:
Topol-M missile complexes
Bulava missiles
S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems
On-board electronics for combat aircraft
Pantsir-S1/S2 air defense systems
Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles
Su-35 fighter jets.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the Special Operations Forces (SSO), launched drone strikes on one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in Ryazan and the Ryazan Thermal Power Plant, sources within the SBU told Kyiv Post.
The refinery, with a processing capacity of 17 million tons of oil per year, is currently burning at least three tanks, the source said.
The fire, sparked by the UAV strikes, spread to the workshop housing the hydrotreating unit for diesel fuel and aviation kerosene.
Local residents reported more than 50 explosions on social media.
In addition, SBU and SSO drones also targeted the Ryazan oil pumping station and the Ryazan Thermal Power Plant.
“Work to weaken the enemy’s military capabilities will continue,” a source added.
Russian authorities reported that more than 120 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV - drones) were launched against several Russian regions overnight on Jan. 23/24.
It was reported by Russian media that the strikes resulted in damage to industrial, oil, and energy facilities, as well as disrupting airport operations.
Severe fires in the Ryazan region
Around 11:30 pm on Thursday, Russian local authorities reported its successful air defense intervention of drones aimed at the Ryazan region.
The regional governor Pavel Malkov said there were no casualties and that “material damage is being assessed.”
However, several Telegram channels later reported around 10 explosions in the city, followed by an outbreak of severe fires at the Ryazan Oil Refining Company and the Novo-Ryazan Thermal Power Plant.
Russian social media also speculated that the Diaghilev military air base close to Ryazan, which reportedly houses Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic aircraft and the nearby 360th Aircraft Repair Plant might have been targeted.
Malkov claimed that drone debris fell on a private house, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished, with no reported casualties.
However, he failed to mention any damage at the refinery or power plant, despite videos being circulated widely on social media.
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Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, underlined the strategic importance of the Ryazan Oil Refining Company, part of Rosneft.
Kovalenko said that the plant is crucial to Russia’s oil industry produces fuel for the civilian sector as well as for military equipment, aviation kerosene, diesel, and other petroleum products used in Russian tanks, aircraft, ships, and other military assets.
Russian Telegram channels reported a drone strike on the “Kremniy” [Silicon] Plant in the Bryansk region, which is said to produce microelectronics used in Russian missile systems.
A fire reportedly broke out at the facility, with videos circulating on social media showing the plant engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
The Telegram channel Mash wrote that fragments of a destroyed drone fell near the plant. Bryansk’s governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed that air defense systems were activated in response to the drone attack but provided no further details.
Kovalenko said that the “Kremniy” Plant manufactures critical components for Russian military hardware, including microelectronics for missile systems including the Pantsir air defense systems, Iskander missiles, radar stations, electronic warfare systems, and drones.
This was at least the third reported drone strike on the facility, he added.
Just the day before the attack, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, met with officials from Bryansk’s military-industrial complex.
Discussions reportedly focused on ramping up production of air defense systems and strengthening security for industrial and state facilities in the region, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Medvedev also visited the Bryansk Chemical Plant, which continues to fulfill state defense orders despite previous Ukrainian strikes.
Analysts suggest that recent Ukrainian drone strikes are aimed at undermining Russia’s defense-industrial base and other facilities supporting its military operations.
The ISW outlined that the Kremlin may increasingly prioritize enhancing air defense capabilities to protect critical industrial assets, especially as Russia’s economy continues to struggle under the weight of war.
Moscow and Saratov under UAV’s attack
Drone activity was also reported in the Moscow and Saratov regions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that air defense had intercepted several UAVs attempting to target the city.
Sobyanin later announced that two more drones were downed in the Podolsk city district, another in the Troitsky administrative district, and a fourth in the Shchelkovo city district. No damages or casualties were reported.
Social media reports said there had been a drone strike in Engels, the Saratov region, allegedly targeted on a local oil refinery. Residents reported hearing around seven explosions, as air defenses were active in the area.
Russian Telegram channels speculated that the attack involved “long-range Lyuty type” and 2.5-meter-long “Bober” kamikaze drones
Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov region, announced that “UAVs were supposedly eliminated,” adding that no injuries or damage were reported.
‘Carpet’ plan activated at Russian airports
Shortly after midnight Rosaviatsia, Russia’s federal air transport authority, announced the temporary suspension of operations at Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky international airports.
The “Carpet” plan - a security protocol that halts airport operations when there is a threat to aircraft or a violation of Russia’s airspace - was also introduced at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
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Canadian Company Launches Autonomous Supersonic Military Drone
01/24/25 AT 10:39 AM EST
A Canadian aerospace company says it has completed flight testing of a high-altitude balloon-launched military drone.
Landing Zones Canada says the Eagle Advanced Payload Delivery System (APDS) is a "stealthy" long-range military device that can operate in extreme climate conditions.
The company says the drone can operate fully autonomously and reach supersonic speeds but also operate at "low loitering" speeds.
It is designed to be capable of reaching stratospheric altitudes and has a "minimal radar signature" to make it harder to detect, the company states.
"With Eagle, we are setting a new benchmark for military drone technology," said Spence Fraser, founder & CEO at Landing Zones Canada Inc.
"Its variable wing profile, allowing flights from supersonic to loitering speeds, along with its ability to carry various payloads and perform in GNSS (global navigation satellite system) contested environments, positions Eagle as a game-changer for military operations worldwide."
https://www.ibtimes.com/landing-zones-military-drone-3760807
Launch Hong Kong’s first drone economy projects in first quarter, alliance urges
Updated: 10:40pm, 24 Jan 2025
An alliance promoting the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong has called on the government to quickly approve projects for a regulatory sandbox and allow test flights to begin in the first quarter of this year to accelerate the sector’s development.
The projects backed by the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance on Friday involved using drones to deliver medicine to remote areas, conduct building inspections and identify injured riders on coastal cycling paths.
The uses for the technology were included in 72 applications submitted to the government by the end of last year as part of a key initiative aimed at helping industry stakeholders test concepts relying on predefined air routes in a controlled environment.
Results of the approval process are due to be announced in the first quarter of the year.
The alliance, composed of members from tech companies and universities, supported 21 of the proposals and urged the Transport and Logistics Bureau to expedite the approval process, leading to a list of scenarios the government hoped to prioritise for the low-altitude economy.
“We hope that some projects will enter the testing phase in the first quarter,” Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan, founding president of the alliance and lawmaker, said.
“The projects vary significantly; some focus solely on flying from point A to point B, while others are more complex and require additional support due to the involvement of various interdepartmental regulations.
“To promote a low-altitude economy in the long run, we need a top-level design and supporting measures, such as route planning and designated take-off and landing points.”
The alliance, led by the city’s largest political party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), was established in collaboration with the Smart City Consortium in September of last year.
The low-altitude economy regulatory sandbox was launched two months later and aims to assist the government in testing airspace operations and infrastructure, while also developing policies and regulatory guidelines for the industry.
Johnson Zhang Wei, managing director of the corporate market division at China Mobile Hong Kong, said his company’s applications included using unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver medicine to remote areas of the city, following tests it conducted in 30 mainland Chinese cities in collaboration with a drone firm.
“Medical delivery is currently restricted by ground conditions and traffic, but drones can enable point-to-point delivery,” Zhang said.
The company was also exploring using drones to patrol coastal roads popular with cyclists, for example Tolo Harbour Cycling Track, and using artificial intelligence to quickly identify any injured riders.
Another application, by Logic-lift Technology, focuses on using drones to inspect tall buildings for any potential safety risks, such as broken windows or cracked walls.
The company has already used drones to inspect more than 200 buildings on the mainland and in Macau.
“Some drones inspecting buildings in Hong Kong still require operators, and the initial data can be quite messy,” Ieong Man-un, sales director of the company, said.
“We hope to test whether the process can be automated so that reports can be generated with just one click.”
Unlike traditional aviation, the low-altitude economy is characterised by manned and unmanned aerial activities in airspace below 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) and extending to not more than 3,000 metres.
In a reply to the Post, the bureau said it was evaluating the projects. The results were expected to be announced in the first quarter of this year, and the trials would commence subsequently.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3296216/launch-hong-kongs-first-drone-economy-projects-first-quarter-alliance-urges
Self-flying cargo drone to deliver aid to remote African areas
24 January 2025
With its ability to reach even the toughest of terrains, a new version of the ‘Windracers Ultra’ self-flying cargo drone has been chosen for missions delivering humanitarian aid in central Africa.
https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2025-01-24-watch-self-flying-cargo-drone-to-deliver-aid-to-remote-african-areas/
Thor Dynamics Unveils Laser Armor™: The Future of Counter-Drone Defense
Jan 23, 2025, 5:52 PM ET
ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, January 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ – Thor Dynamics, a new provider of directed energy solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its revolutionary new product, Laser Armor™.
Designed to set a new standard in counter-drone defense, Laser Armor™ integrates cutting-edge laser technology with advanced AI for unparalleled precision, power, and efficiency.
Laser Armor™ is equipped with advanced AI capabilities that provide real-time situational awareness, target tracking, and drone neutralization.
This state-of-the-art system ensures rapid and effective responses to evolving aerial threats, protecting critical infrastructure, national security assets, and military personnel.
With a laser power output of up to 20 kW, Laser Armor™ delivers the firepower needed to detect, track, and eliminate unauthorized drones, even in the most challenging operational environments.
Its modular design allows for scalable deployment, making it suitable for diverse applications, including perimeter security, battlefield defense, and safeguarding urban airspaces.
Thor Dynamics emphasizes affordability and scalability, ensuring Laser Armor™ is manufactured at scale to meet the growing demand for cost-effective counter-drone solutions.
Leveraging advanced manufacturing processes, the company has made high-performance laser technology accessible to both governmental and private sectors worldwide.
“With the introduction of Laser Armor™, we are addressing a critical need for precise, reliable, and affordable drone defense systems,” said Gleb Chuvpilo, CEO of Thor Dynamics.
“This product embodies our commitment to protecting global infrastructure and communities with innovative technology.”
Laser Armor™ builds on Thor Dynamics’ proven expertise in directed energy systems, ensuring superior performance in high-stakes scenarios.
Its versatility and robust design make it an indispensable tool for a wide range of use cases, including securing power plants, airports, military bases, and more.
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with a European base in Finland, Thor Dynamics specializes in directed energy systems for counter-drone defense.
The company’s innovative solutions are available worldwide to protect critical infrastructure and enhance national security.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/779640960/thor-dynamics-unveils-laser-armor-the-future-of-counter-drone-defense/
https://www.thordynamics.com/
Drone mystery deepens as New Jersey mayor shares new footage of 'glowing orbs' in the skies
Updated: 13:54 EST, 24 January 2025
A New Jersey Mayor has shared new footage of 'glowing orbs transforming into drones' over Long Island, adding more intrigue to this ongoing mystery.
Michael Melham, the Mayor of Belleville, has been outspoken about the unexplained phenomena plaguing his state and the greater tri-state area since mid-November when the drones first appeared.
He shared the bizarre footage on X, saying the clips 'appears to show glowing orbs turning into drones. Verified not to be planes via flight tracker. They hover. Glow. Then move.'
In a recent interview with NewsNation, Melham said he is still getting reports of drone sightings 'all over New Jersey, and even Long Island.'
'Here in New Jersey, we are about 500 mayors strong, we are still waiting for answers because our residents are still gravely concerned over what's flying just over our homes,' he said.
In one of the videos, which appeared to have been shot with an infrared camera, a large ball of light can be seen slowly changing shape into what looks like a fixed-wing aircraft.
Another shows a bright white orb over the North Shore of Long Island, where the videographer told Melham that hundreds of drones can be seen nightly. This orb also gradually morphs into what appears to be a fixed-wing aircraft.
Melham emphasized the need for answers and expressed hope that President Donald Trump will shed light on the matter. Trump said Monday that he will 'tell the people' the truth about the drones.
'Why don't we find out immediately,' Trump said while in the Oval Office. 'I can't imagine it's an enemy or there… people would've gotten blown up over [it].
'Maybe they were testing things. I don't know why they wouldn't have said what it was.'
Trump had previously promised he would disclose the truth about the drones on day one of his presidency, but he has not shared any details as of yet.
'The fact that he doesn't seem to have that many details… tells me that if he's not briefed on it yet, it's probably not a matter of national security, or certainly not an alien invasion or anything crazy like that,' Melham told NewsNation.
The mayor said it's 'more than likely' the aircraft are 'our own government or experimental drones that are up in the sky,' but added that residents are still concerned about the lack of answers from the government.
'I do take the president at his word. I do think that we are gonna get some kind of disclosure,' he said, adding that it will 'come soon.'
The videos Melham shared were taken by Dan Oliverio, who documents UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) sightings through his Instagram account @OurStrangeSkies. Oliverio sent the footage directly to Melham.
Strangely, the video of the North Shore of Long Island shows a timestamp of January 28, 2025, which is six days after it was shared online by Melham.
When asked about this, Oliverio told Melham that the incorrect timestamp was the result of faulty binoculars he used to take the video.
Despite widespread public concern over sightings like these, the Biden administration had assured the public that the sightings were not a threat, brushing most off as hobbyist drones, commercial airplanes and even stars.
Melham is cautiously optimistic that the new administration could shed light on the mysterious aircraft, which he believes are definitely drones.
'Our president-elect receives the same exact national intelligence briefing that our president does, so if it was a foreign adversary or something alien or extraterrestrial, I'm certain, as president-elect, he would have known,' he said.
Some social media users who saw these videos are not convinced they are actually of orbs, drones or one morphing into the other.
'That's just a normal plane doing normal plane things,' one X user replied.
'Its landing lights are facing the camera at first,' creating a lens flare, which is when light shone directly into a camera lens scatters and takes on an orb-like appearance.
'It then turns and the landing lights are facing away from the camera,' causing the lens flare to dissipate and allowing its true shape as a fixed-wing aircraft to become visible.
Others are still concerned that these are not 'normal' aircraft, and welcome Melham's continued push for answers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14321855/drones-mystery-new-jersey-mayor-video-glowing-orbs.html
https://x.com/michaelmelham/status/1882289650737524974
https://x.com/michaelmelham/status/1882291491869282612
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Ohio and UFO Mysteries: From presidential promises to unsolved phenomena
Updated Fri, January 24th 2025 at 1:41 PM
If you doom-scroll through social media or watch cable TV, chances are you’ve seen videos claiming to show drones, orbs, tictacs, alien motherships, and even angels.
Now, President Trump says he wants Americans to know the truth about what’s in our skies.
On his first day in office, the President told reporters he would reveal the secrets of the New Jersey mystery drones that hovered over the northeastern U.S. for weeks starting in November. Allies of the President, including Donald Trump Jr., Representative Tim Williams, and former Congressman Matt Gaetz, have floated the idea of a new federal investigation into UAP—unidentified anomalous phenomena.
While we wait for full disclosure, here’s a look at some of the top stories from Ohio’s rich history of UFO sightings:
The 1973 Coyne Helicopter Incident
A military helicopter crew near Mansfield reported a UFO encounter while traveling from Columbus to Cleveland. A cigar-shaped craft reportedly hovered above their helicopter, shining a green light that seemed to control the aircraft.
The pilot, Capt. Lawrence J. Coyne, claimed to have briefly lost control but ultimately landed safely. The sighting coincided with multiple reports from people on the ground near Charles Mill Lake.
The 1958 Trumbull County UFO Incident
More than 20 police officers and civilians reported seeing a large, bright object flying over Trumbull County. Witnesses described the object as metallic, silent, and emitting multicolored lights.
Despite numerous reports, the incident was never explained.
The 1966 Portage County UFO Chase
This dramatic encounter inspired parts of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Two Portage County deputies pursued a UFO for 86 miles after spotting it near Ravenna.
The object, described as a bright, metallic disc with a dome, led the officers on a high-speed chase into Pennsylvania before disappearing.
The 1994 Wright-Patterson UFO Files Leak
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton has long been linked to UFO lore, including speculation that it houses extraterrestrial materials recovered from the 1947 Roswell incident.
In 1994, a whistleblower reignited interest in the base, claiming secret UFO studies had been conducted there.
The 1949 Cincinnati Lights
Witnesses in Cincinnati reported seeing a series of bright lights moving erratically across the night sky. The lights were described as changing colors and flying in patterns that defied conventional aircraft behavior.
The event remains unexplained and frequently appears in UFO discussions.
More recently, in December, mystery drones were reported over Delaware County and Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton.
The base shut down its airspace between Dec. 13 and 14 due to sightings of “small, unmanned aerial systems” in the area. Both incidents remain unsolved.
Ohio’s skies hold countless mysteries and answers could come soon.
https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-ufo-mysteries-presidential-promises-unsolved-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-coyne-incident-roswell-wright-patterson-aliens-disclosure-orbs-drones
SpaceX launch lights up Bay Area skies — and sparks UFO speculation
Jan 24, 2025
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday morning, sending many Bay Area residents to their phones in search of an explanation for the strange glowing lights in the sky.
The mission, which took place at 6:07 a.m., was the latest in a series of Starlink launches aimed at expanding SpaceX’s satellite internet network.
As the rocket ascended into the early morning sky from Space Launch Complex 4 East in Santa Barbara County, it was visible to residents across Central and Northern California.
Social media posts flooded in, with observers describing a bright streak and unusual lights overhead. Some Reddit users even speculated it might be a UFO or a rare celestial event.
This launch, SpaceX’s 23rd Starlink mission, marked another milestone for the Elon Musk-owned company: the 23rd flight of the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, according to its mission page.
The booster successfully returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The recovery was the 401st successful landing of an orbital-class booster by SpaceX.
The mission was the fourth launch from U.S. Space Force’s West Coast spaceport at Vandenberg in 2025, according to the base.
The Starlink satellites, part of SpaceX’s growing satellite internet network, were deployed into low-Earth orbit around 64 minutes after liftoff.
As most of the satellites reached their intended destination, residents of coastal regions like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo were warned that they might hear sonic booms, depending on weather conditions.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/spacex-falcon-9-starlink-launch-20053824.php
Schumer’s UAP Disclosure Request to Trump
January 24, 2025
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) tweeted President Trump and encouraged him to declassify secret government archives about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs).
This followed on Trump’s executive order on January 23, 2025 to declassify government records on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
President Trump directed his attorney general and director of national intelligence to give him a plan within 15 days “for the full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,” as well as within 45 days “for the full and complete release” of papers related to the killings of Senator Kennedy and Dr. King.
The UAP disclosure request has bipartisan support. Senators Schumer and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act a year and a half ago that requested to declassify and disclose government records related to UAPs unless officials provide reasons for why they should remain classified.
From the U.S. government’s perspective, the fundamental question is whether these anomalous objects are human made, in which case they pose a national security threat.
However, even if one in a million objects is from an extraterrestrial origin, it could inform us that we are not alone and be the biggest scientific discovery in human history.
As a scientist, I would love to have access to any data that indicates a nonhuman origin of technological objects. My day job is studying what lies outside the Solar system.
I lead the Galileo Project at Harvard University, which is constructing three new observatories that are expected to track more than a million objects in the sky this year. We already published several scientific papers about our data.
It is always good to know facts about our cosmic neighborhood. In 1992 the Vatican admitted that Galileo was right and the Earth is not at the center of the Universe.
Knowing that fact is clearly beneficial. We would have never reached Mars if we thought that it orbits the Earth. The time is ripe for us to know whether we are at the intellectual center of the Universe.
Based on existing astronomical data, it is likely that there are of order a hundred billion Earth-Sun analogs in the Milky-Way galaxy alone.
In other words, there are numerous houses like our own in our cosmic street. The pressing question is whether any of them had residents like us over the past few billion years.
The worst-case scenario from my perspective as a curious scientist is that all anomalous objects in the government’s records are human made.
This would be a boring outcome that carries no new information about our cosmic neighborhood, but is of great significance to national security.
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/schumers-uap-disclosure-request-to-trump-9d6476aa8e94
https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1882555171596804472