KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — On Sunday, Ukraine intensified its strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, launching new attacks that targeted critical facilities in Russia. In a notable incident, Ukrainian drones hit the Saratov oil refinery, located in southwestern Russia, causing significant damage and large-scale fires. Ukraine's General Staff claimed that the refinery had been playing a vital role in supporting Moscow's military endeavors.

The Saratov refinery is owned by Rosneft, a state-controlled oil enterprise in Russia. Local Russian Governor Roman Busargin noted that Ukrainian drones had inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure, although he refrained from providing specific details. An independent Russian news outlet, Astra, confirmed that a fire was reported at the oil facility in Saratov.

This uptick in attacks on energy facilities aligns with Ukraine's strategy to undermine Russia's oil and gas sector, which is crucial for funding its military operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touted the strikes as a significant achievement, emphasizing the long-range capabilities of Ukraine's drone operations, which reached approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the front lines.

In addition to the refinery incident, drone debris reportedly ignited a fuel depot in the Rostov region of Russia, close to the border with Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Governor Yuriy Slyusar confirmed via Telegram that local residents were evacuated due to the fire caused by the drone strike. Ukraine’s General Staff also took responsibility for a drone assault on the Lazarevo pumping station in Russia’s Kirov region, situated over 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territories. This station plays a crucial role in transporting oil from Siberia to Belarus.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated regarding allegations of a drone striking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant—the largest in Europe. While Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom claimed that the drone attack resulted in an explosion and damage to a turbine hall, Ukraine vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as propaganda. Ukrainian military sources asserted that they do not target nuclear facilities and adhere to international humanitarian law, given the catastrophic potential of any actions against such sites.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed "serious concern" over the claims, noting that IAEA inspectors observed exterior damage consistent with a drone's impact but did not determine the drone's origin. Despite the incident, radiation levels at the site remained normal, and the IAEA requested access for further examination of the turbine hall.

In a separate context, President Zelenskyy discussed Russia's treatment of Ukrainian children, asserting that abducted children are being treated as combatants. He alleged that these children are subjected to indoctrination aimed at fostering hatred towards their homeland, with claims of their training for potential combat roles against Ukrainians. During his interview, Zelenskyy included information about attempts to separate siblings during abductions and offered to facilitate exchanges of abducted children for imprisoned Ukrainian soldiers. This alarming trend of unlawful deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia has drawn international ire, prompting the European Union to impose sanctions on Russian officials linked to these activities.

In continued military developments, Ukraine's air force reported that it intercepted 212 out of 299 Russian drones launched overnight. However, despite these efforts, some drones reached their targets, causing destruction in major cities, including Dnipro, and leading to civilian casualties. One individual was confirmed dead in the Chernihiv region due to drone strikes, while Russian attacks resulted in fires at an oil refinery in Ukraine's Rivne region.

As the conflict continues, both sides are engaged in a relentless cycle of drone strikes and military operations, highlighting the ongoing volatility of the situation in Ukraine and Russia's capabilities for retaliation.