Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Oil Refineries, Ignites Fires in Remote Regions
In a series of deep‑inland strikes, Ukrainian forces reported bombing the Bashneft‑Novoil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan republic and the Slavneft‑Yanos refinery in the Yaroslavl region, as part of a campaign to cut Russia’s war‑finance revenue.
The Bashneft refinery was 1,300 km from the Ukrainian border, while the Slavneft facility lay roughly 700 km away. Both strikes produced large smoke plumes, and the Slavneft refinery was set ablaze, according to regional authorities. Four people were injured at the Yaroslavl site, where the governor said dozens of drones were shot down overnight.
Zelensky urged restraint from Russia and said the attacks strengthened diplomatic prospects, adding that Ukraine damaged two patrol boats and tanker vessels in the Black Sea used for illicit oil export. Russian officials claimed an interception of 605 Ukrainian drones and claimed their strikes hit fuel, energy and transport facilities.
The night’s shelling also hit residential houses in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, where three people died, and the train station in Lozova, killing two others. Kherson suffered a full blackout after a critical infrastructure site was hit, with internet connectivity dropping to about 31% before partially recovering.
These attacks underscore the stagnant front line and ongoing aerial engagements that keep the war in Ukraine tense. The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, continues with both sides targeting major infrastructure to impede each other’s war efforts.
