Ukraine says it struck two Russian oil refineries deep inside the country
Ukraine reported drone attacks on the Bashneft-Novoil and Slavneft-Yanos refineries, claiming the strikes aim to cut oil revenues that fund Russia's war, while Russia reported casualties from its own attacks.
Ukraine announced that it had carried out multiple strikes on two oil refineries located deep within Russian territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks on the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl were intended to reduce oil revenues that Moscow uses to finance its war.
Yaroslavl regional governor Mikhail Evraev reported that the Slavneft-Yanos facility was on fire after what he described as a large drone attack, and said four people were injured.
In a separate statement, Zelensky said the Bashneft-Novoil refinery is about 1,300 km (808 miles) from the Ukrainian border, while the Slavneft-Yanos site is roughly 700 km (435 miles) away. He also claimed that two military patrol boats and other vessels in the Black Sea, which he said are used to export sanctioned oil, were hit.
Russia, meanwhile, said its attacks had killed at least 11 people and caused a total blackout in the southern city of Kherson. Russian officials said they targeted fuel, energy and transport facilities.
The conflict has seen an escalation of attacks on major cities, energy infrastructure and warehouses on both sides, with no breakthrough in diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian officials also reported civilian casualties from Russian drone strikes in several regions, including three deaths in Balakliya, two in Lozova and five in Dnipropetrovsk.