Ukrainian drones hit three Russian oil refineries following US envoy visits

Ukrainian drones struck three oil refineries in Russia's Perm region on Monday, targeting facilities owned by Lukoil and others, as well as a drone launch site in Kursk Oblast and a location in the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post. The attacks came after U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend to advance negotiations aimed at ending the four-year conflict.

U.S. officials have linked the strikes to rising gasoline prices. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that the attacks are “the single-biggest factor” behind price increases, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Ukraine’s targeting of Russian energy assets is creating upward pressure on global prices.

Witkoff posted on X that the meetings resulted in “substantive progress,” including plans for additional trilateral talks, and noted that President Donald Trump is working to stop the fighting and achieve a durable peace. He also said both sides had agreed to a three-day cease-fire before the envoys’ visit.

Zelensky, in a separate X post, said discussions covered Ukraine’s air-defence needs, technological cooperation and a winter assistance package. He added that Ukraine’s proposals are constructive and that coordination continues ahead of upcoming meetings.