- Ukraine hit more oil facilities deep inside Russia in overnight attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, as Kyiv kept up its campaign to embarrass the Kremlin.
- Ukrainian forces hit a refinery in Bashkortostan region, more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the front line, as well as a refinery in Yaroslavl region, almost 700 kilometers (400 miles) from the border, Zelenskyy said on social media.
- Yaroslavl Gov. Mikhail Yevrayev confirmed an attack on a refinery, saying in a Telegram post that drone debris hit the facility’s oil reservoirs, sparking a fire. Three private houses also caught fire, and several residential buildings were damaged, he added.
- Ukrainian forces hit two Russian military patrol boats in the Black Sea, Zelenskyy said, along with vessels belonging to Moscow’s shadow fleet, which Russia uses to evade Western restrictions on its oil exports.
- The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses overnight shot down 605 Ukrainian drones over its territory.
- Drone and glide bomb attacks across Ukraine overnight killed at least three civilians and wounded 22 others, authorities said Thursday, as countries helping Kyiv resist the invasion scrambled to find more vital air defenses for its fight.
- Zelenskyy said he had spoken to NATO chief Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb about urgently procuring interceptors from stockpiles. Rutte said on X that he was discussing with allies how to continue to get Ukraine the air defenses they urgently need.
Ukraine's military campaign escalated with overnight strikes on oil facilities in Russia, specifically targeting refineries in Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attacks, which are over 1,300 kilometers from the front line, aiming to embarrass the Kremlin.12
Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Yevrayev reported that drone debris ignited oil reservoirs at the refinery, causing fires that affected nearby residential areas. He noted that three private houses were damaged in the incident.3
In addition to the refinery strikes, Ukrainian forces also targeted Russian military patrol boats in the Black Sea, although details remain scarce. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 605 Ukrainian drones during the same period.5
The ongoing conflict has seen a rise in drone and glide bomb attacks across Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties, with at least three killed and 22 wounded in recent strikes. Zelenskyy is actively seeking enhanced air defense systems from NATO allies, emphasizing the urgency of procuring interceptors to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Rutte, NATO chief, is in discussions with allies to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary air defense support, highlighting the international effort to assist Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
“The strikes hit a refinery in Bashkortostan, over 1,300 km from the front line, and one in Yaroslavl, where drone debris sparked a fire and damaged homes. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 605 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine's air force reported intercepting 66 of 101 Russian drones.”
AP News
