In brief
Ukraine has launched a series of strikes deep inside Russian territory, hitting two major oil refineries – Bashneft‑Novoil and Slavneft‑Yanos – and making headlines with massive smoke plumes and fires. President Zelensky said the attacks aimed to curtail Moscow’s oil revenue used to fund the war. Russian officials report injuries and significant damage, while the wider conflict sees continued drone battles over cities and infrastructure. The attacks underscore the escalating intensity of the war and the strategic focus on crippling energy assets.
Ukraine announced it has struck the Bashneft‑Novoil refinery near Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic and the Slavneft‑Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl, more than 1,300 km from the border, using a fleet of attack drones and patrol boats in the Black Sea.
Targets and TacticsThe attacks were carried out by a combination of drone strikes and special‑forces patrol boats that swept the Black‑Sea coast, aiming at oil plants that feed Moscow’s war effort.
Officials said the Slavneft‑Yanos complex broke into flames after a heavy drone barrage, leaving large smoke plumes visible from the air. Fire crews are still fighting the blaze.
The Bashneft‑Novoil refinery received comparatively less damage but stands partly damaged, officials say.
Casualties and DamageYaroslavl governor Mikhail Evraev reported four people injured when the site was set ablaze, calling the strike the “largest enemy drone attack.”
Ukrainian officials say 11 people were killed in Russian attacks earlier this week, and Kherson, a key southern city, reported a total blackout after a critical infrastructure facility was hit overnight.
Broader Conflict ContextBoth sides have intensified attacks on major cities, energy sites and warehouses as the front line remains largely static. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion continues to provoke retaliatory strikes aimed at crippling Moscow’s fuel and transport networks.
Zelensky added that the attacks were “strengthening chances for diplomacy” and threatened that Russia must choose peace. Russian forces reported intercepting or shooting down 605 Ukrainian drones overnight, underscoring the escalating drone warfare over the region.
