In brief
Ukraine announced that its forces struck the Bashneft‑Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft‑Yanos refinery near Yaroslavl, both deep inside Russia. The attacks, described by President Zelensky as aimed at curbing Russian war financing, involved drones and reportedly caused extensive fire and damage. Concurrently Ukraine reported hits on Black‑Sea patrol boats, drone‑storage sites and other infrastructure, while Russian forces claimed to have shot down 605 Ukrainian drones. The broadened offensives came amid rising casualties and energy disruptions across Ukraine, including a blackout in Kherson and fatal attacks in Balakliya and Lozova.
On Thursday, Ukraine announced that its forces inflicted damage on two Russian oil refineries – the Bashneft‑Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft‑Yanos refinery near Yaroslavl – both more than 400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes were part of a strategy to cut Russia’s oil revenues that finance its war. The Bashneft‑Novoil site sits about 1,300 km (808 miles) from Kyiv, while Slavneft‑Yanos is roughly 700 km (435 miles) away.
Yaroslavl governor Mikhail Evraev confirmed the refinery was engulfed in flames after the largest enemy drone attack, with four people injured. He also reported that 93 drones were downed over the region during the night.
Alongside the refinery attacks, Ukraine said that two military patrol boats and several shadow‑fleet tankers operating in the Black Sea were struck, targeting vessels that were illegally exporting sanctioned crude.
The broader Ukrainian campaign has led to significant civilian and infrastructure damage. In Balakliya, a northeastern town in Kharkiv region, a Russian drone strike killed three people and caused fires in private residences. Popuk from Lozova reported two additional deaths and eight injuries after a drone hit the local train station.
Russian forces claimed to have intercepted 605 drones overnight across multiple regions, and said they struck fuel, energy and transport facilities. Kherson suffered a complete blackout as a critical infrastructure facility was hit, with internet service temporarily reduced to 31% before stabilising at around 69%.
The attacks, amid an otherwise static front line, show both sides escalating sabotage of economic assets while diplomatic solutions stall. Zelensky urged Russia to choose peace, suggesting that intensified Ukrainian hits could bolster diplomatic prospects.
