New sanctions against Russia and a strike on a drone warehouse near Rostov: highlights from January 10th.

The USA has imposed sanctions on over 30 Russian oil service companies. Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine, along with the Navy, conducted operations against an ammunition storage facility in the Rostov region.

For more details on what happened on Friday, January 10, see the article by RBK-Ukraine.

The USA has imposed sanctions on major Russian oil companies

The USA has imposed sanctions on over 30 Russian oil service companies. At the same time, the restrictions also affected a Serbian company linked to "Gazprom Neft".

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has taken drastic measures to fulfill G7 commitments to reduce Russian energy revenues, including blocking two major Russian oil producers, namely "Gazprom Neft" and "Surgutneftegas".

In addition to these, the United States announced sanctions affecting more than 30 other Russian oil service companies.

The UK, alongside the USA, has imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants

The UK has for the first time imposed sanctions on Russian companies "Gazprom Neft" and "Surgutneftegas". The restrictions will impact Russia's oil sales revenue.

The UK government noted that daily "Gazprom Neft" and "Surgutneftegas" produce over 1 million barrels of oil, amounting to approximately 23 billion dollars per year. This is more than Jamaica's GDP.

"The profits of these two companies fill Putin's military wallet (the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin - ed.) and contribute to the war effort," the government clarified.

They added that every strike the UK delivers against Russia's oil revenues is another step toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Joint operation of the SBU and Navy: "Neptune" hits a drone storage facility in Russia

On the night of January 10, SBU drones and the "Neptune" missile targeted an ammunition and drone storage facility near the village of Chaltyr in the Rostov region.

According to our sources, initially, the security drones "overloaded" the Russian air defense, and then "Neptune" visited the site.

The SBU noted that Russians complained all night on social media about the sounds of flying drones, the operation of Russian air defense, and reported a loud explosion, likely from the arrival of "Neptune." Locals later discussed multiple explosions near Chaltyr, indicating secondary detonations of munitions.

UAF struck a command post of the RF in Svetlodarsk

The defense forces struck a command post of the 3rd Army Corps of the RF. It was located in Svetlodarsk, Donetsk region.

The military also noted that during this week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine delivered a series of strikes against facilities captured by Russian occupiers in the Donetsk region.

Germany is preparing new arms packages for Ukraine

Germany is preparing new large military aid packages for Ukraine. They may be provided in the first half of 2025.

N-TV, citing sources in government circles, reports that the new packages will include 22 Leopard 1 main battle tanks, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and another air defense system, Iris-T SLM/SLS.

Additionally, the publication states that Ukraine will receive 16 howitzers, two additional Patriot launchers, and seven Gepard anti-aircraft guns with 120,000 munitions.

"Ukraine will also receive 3,500 armed drones from Helsing, six armed Sea-King helicopters, and 250,000 artillery shells. Furthermore, there are various other weapons and equipment for the Ukrainian army," the publication reports.

The Cabinet simplified the booking for gas workers

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has simplified the process of granting critical economic status to gas distribution system operators. The changes pertain to enterprises that ensure the stable functioning of gas supply systems during a special period.

Key changes for gas distribution system operators include:

• henceforth, the requirement for a monthly salary level exceeding 2.5 minimum wages for the last calendar quarter is not applied for booking operators' employees;
• operators are allowed to choose a criterion regarding the size of the average salary of employees - not less than the average size.

The EU has provided Ukraine with the first 3 billion euros from frozen Russian assets

The state budget of Ukraine received 3 billion euros from the European Union under the G7 initiative "ERA". In total, the EU will provide 18 billion euros.

"This is the first tranche of funds from the European Union, secured by revenues from frozen Russian assets," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported.

According to him, Ukraine will allocate this resource for priority budget expenditures.

Shmyhal noted that the overall G7 ERA initiative plans to direct 50 billion dollars to Ukraine, of which 20 billion dollars will be provided by the European Union.

Trump announced preparations for a meeting with Putin

The elected U.S. president Donald Trump stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him. According to him, the meeting is already being organized.

Trump's statement came on Thursday during his speech before a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

"He (Putin - ed) wants to meet, and we will arrange it. President Xi, we have communicated a lot. And we have many meetings scheduled with many people. Some have already arrived," he said.