Ukraine launched a heavy drone assault on Russia overnight, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region and killing at least two people, Russian authorities reported on Sunday. The attack is part of Kyiv's campaign to disrupt Russian fuel supplies and military logistics, aiming to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.
Refinery Blaze and Casualties
Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at the refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, a town in Russia's Krasnodar region east of occupied Crimea, according to Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev. The falling debris killed one person in Slavyansk and injured another in a nearby village, regional authorities confirmed. Photos and videos circulated on Russian social media showed a thick cloud of smoke over the refinery, though the Associated Press could not immediately verify the images.
Zelensky Claims Responsibility
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine was behind the strike on Slavyansk. He also claimed that a second Russian refinery, in the Yaroslavl region approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was hit during the nighttime strikes. "Tonight, our 'long-range sanctions' reached two oil refineries in Russia," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. "Each (strike) means a reduction in the resources that fuel the Russian war machine, and another step toward peace."
Strategic Impact of the Campaign
Ukraine has significantly stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities in recent months, aiming to cut Moscow's revenue for its invasion—now in its fifth year—and make Russians feel the consequences. According to Western officials, the campaign has helped stall Moscow's efforts on the battlefield and heap pressure on the Kremlin. The Slavyansk site is one of southern Russia's major refineries, processing close to 4 million tons of crude per year, according to its operator's website. It is also a key source of petroleum products intended for export through Russia's Black Sea ports, including fuel oil, naphtha, and marine fuel.
Yaroslavl Region and Other Attacks
There were no immediate reports from Russian authorities about the Ukrainian strike on the refinery in the Yaroslavl region. Local Gov. Mikhail Evraev reported on Sunday morning that some roads between Moscow and the region's capital, Yaroslavl, were temporarily closed due to "an enemy attack by Ukrainian drones." Yaroslavl's airport also briefly closed overnight, along with others in southern and western Russia, according to the country's civil aviation agency. Elsewhere, Ukrainian drone strikes killed one person and injured another in Russia's border region of Belgorod, its acting Gov. Alexander Shuvayev reported on Sunday.
Russian and Ukrainian Air Defense Claims
Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 213 Ukrainian drones during the night, including over Russia, occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas. Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 142 long-range strike drones and eight missiles overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Of those, 125 drones and seven missiles were struck down, the air force said.
