Ukraine has launched one of its deepest long-range attacks inside Russia, targeting two major oil refineries and military-linked vessels in the Black Sea as fighting between the two countries continues to intensify.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces successfully struck the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan republic and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in the Yaroslavl region. According to Zelensky, the operations were aimed at reducing the oil revenues Russia relies on to finance its war against Ukraine.
The Bashneft-Novoil facility is located approximately 1,300km (808 miles) from the Ukrainian border, while the Slavneft-Yanos refinery lies around 700km (435 miles) away, highlighting Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike capability.
Zelensky also claimed that Ukrainian forces hit two Russian military patrol boats and several vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea. These vessels have been used to transport sanctioned Russian oil exports despite international restrictions.
“Russia must choose peace,” Zelensky said, adding that the latest military operations were intended to increase pressure on Moscow and improve the prospects for diplomacy.
In Russia, Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Evraev confirmed that the Slavneft-Yanos refinery caught fire after what he described as the largest Ukrainian drone attack on the region. He said 93 drones were intercepted overnight but debris from those shot down struck oil storage tanks, sparking fires that emergency crews were working to extinguish. Four people were reported injured.
Videos and photographs verified by independent sources showed thick smoke rising above the refinery, with multiple fires visible across the industrial site. Energy infrastructure in the Yaroslavl region has previously been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.
Authorities in Bashkortostan have not publicly commented on reports of damage to the Bashneft-Novoil refinery following the strikes.
Ukraine also endured another night of heavy Russian attacks. The State Emergency Service reported that three civilians were killed after drones struck residential homes in Balakliya, located in the Kharkiv region. Fires broke out in damaged buildings during the overnight assault.
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov later confirmed that two additional people died when Russian drones targeted the railway station in Lozova, while eight others were injured.
Elsewhere, officials said five people were killed in strikes across Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region.
The southern city of Kherson experienced a complete power outage after a critical infrastructure facility was hit overnight. Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said the attack knocked out electricity across the city.
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported severe disruptions to internet connectivity throughout the Kherson region. Data indicated connectivity dropped to around 31% before partially recovering to approximately 69% later in the day, with backup generators helping maintain some communications.
In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, one person was killed after Russian forces struck two dry cargo vessels, adding to growing concerns over attacks on Ukraine’s maritime infrastructure.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted or destroyed 605 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight. It also stated that Russian forces carried out strikes on Ukraine’s fuel, transport, energy infrastructure and drone storage facilities as part of ongoing military operations.
The latest exchange of attacks comes as both countries continue escalating strikes on strategic infrastructure, energy facilities and logistics networks. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, there has been no breakthrough toward ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Tags: Ukraine, Russia, Russia Ukraine War, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Russian Oil Refineries, Drone Attack, Bashneft Novoil, Slavneft Yanos, Yaroslavl, Bashkortostan, Black Sea, Kherson, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Energy Infrastructure, Oil Exports, Military Conflict, World News