KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted two of Russia's largest oil refineries in recent overnight strikes, intensifying the pressure on the Kremlin amid a deepening fuel crisis stemming from Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile attacks. This latest military operation is part of Ukraine's strategic efforts to weaken Russia's military capabilities and governmental revenue as the conflict continues over four years after Russia's invasion.
The strikes occurred at a Lukoil refinery located in Perm, over 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine, and another refinery in Ryazan, about 400 kilometers (180 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine's Security Service and General Staff confirmed these attacks, which resulted in significant fires at the facilities. The two refineries are noted for their combined annual production capacity of approximately 220 million barrels of oil, a crucial resource for Russia's military operations.
Although the claims made by Ukraine regarding the attacks require independent verification, Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov reported that six individuals were hospitalized following a drone strike and mentioned that debris from the drones caused fires at unspecified industrial sites. Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer akin to Amazon, also evacuated staff from a facility in Ryazan in response to the incident, but did not provide further commentary.
Despite Russia's advanced air defense systems, the country's vast geographical spread makes comprehensive coverage challenging, which has allowed Ukraine to carry out these significant strikes. The timing of the attacks coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he sought increased American support in the ongoing conflict against Russia.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for sustained pressure on Russia to increase the costs of the war for the aggressor. He stated, “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.” Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts seem to have restored goodwill in Washington following previous hesitations regarding U.S. support for Ukraine.
Following his talks with Trump, Zelenskyy expressed that the meetings were productive, describing them as a “good meeting,” to which Trump referred as a “Great Honor.” He also met with over 60 U.S. senators to advocate for further sanctions against Russia and discussed potential joint production and technology interchange with major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Ukraine has indicated its readiness to share its advanced drone technology, critical for its military strategies against Russia.
Military officials in Ukraine reported striking a total of 201 Russian vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov over just three weeks, showcasing the ongoing intensity of the conflict. These figures do not include strikes attributed to Ukraine's Security Service and other military formations, highlighting the multifaceted approach Ukraine has taken in targeting Russian military assets. The Ukrainian General Staff has also reported the targeting of a naval base, a radar station in Bryansk, and other military installations in the ongoing operations.
The Russian Defense Ministry, for their part, claimed to have intercepted 295 Ukrainian drones in various regions, while Russian airstrikes have continued to affect Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, resulting in civilian injuries. Overall, the military landscape remains volatile, with continued exchanges of fire underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by both sides in this conflict.
