Ukraine launched long-range drone attacks on two Russian oil refineries on Thursday, including one of the country’s largest facilities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Kyiv continued targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region.
In a social media post, he said Ukraine’s long-range sanctions had “once again worked to limit Russia’s oil revenues, which it uses to finance the war and the killing of Ukrainians.”
According to the refinery’s website, the Slavneft-Yanos plant produces about 15 million tonnes of crude oil each year and manufactures petrol, jet fuel and other petroleum products.
Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Evraev said the region faced its largest drone attack to date, with air defences destroying 93 drones.
“Falling debris hit the oil refinery’s storage tanks. Emergency services are working to extinguish the fire,” Evraev said on Telegram. He said there were no deaths, although four people were injured.
CNN also reported that Ukraine has increased attacks on Russia’s Wildberries retail network while continuing strikes on energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck two Russian military patrol boats and shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea after attacks on shipping.
Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said one person was killed and three others were injured after a Russian strike hit a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship carrying Ukrainian wheat.
