Ukraine said its forces struck two of Russia’s largest oil refineries overnight in a fresh wave of long range attacks, intensifying pressure on Moscow’s energy infrastructure just hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
Ukrainian officials said drones targeted a Lukoil refinery in Russia’s Perm region, about 1,500 kilometres from Ukraine, and another refinery in Ryazan, around 400 kilometres from the border. The facilities have a combined annual production capacity of about 220 million barrels of oil, making them strategically important to Russia’s economy and military.
Russia did not confirm the attacks on the refineries. Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said six people were taken to hospital after a drone attack and reported fires at unspecified industrial sites. Online retailer Wildberries also said it evacuated staff from one of its facilities in Ryazan.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically developed long-range drones and missiles to target Russian oil infrastructure, a campaign aimed at disrupting fuel supplies and reducing revenue used to finance Moscow’s war effort.
Zelenskyy said the strikes were intended to increase the cost of the war for Russia.
“Russia must feel that every day of this war will only come at a higher cost for it. We need to weaken the aggressor and keep up the pressure to bring an end to this war closer.”
The attacks followed Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump at the White House, where the Ukrainian leader sought continued U.S. military and financial support. Recent Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory have strengthened Kyiv’s standing in Washington after earlier uncertainty over American backing.
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