Ukraine’s military says it scored a direct hit on the Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region overnight, triggering powerful explosions and a blazing fire at one of Russia’s biggest fuel hubs. 💥🔥
The Kirishi plant churns out around 80 types of petroleum products—from automotive gasoline and diesel to aviation fuel—and Ukrainian commanders say it’s a key source supplying Russian forces at the front.
Russia’s Defense Ministry countered that air defense units intercepted at least 361 attacking drones, along with four guided aerial bombs and a U.S.-made HIMARS rocket, though it didn’t specify where those interceptions took place. According to the Leningrad regional governor, no one on the ground was hurt in Kirishi.
Ukraine’s own drone command confirmed the strike, calling it “successful” and underlining its strategy: “The fastest-working sanctions are direct hits on oil plants, terminals, and depots,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video update. “We’re seriously choking the Russian oil industry—and that’s limiting their war machine.”
Zelenskyy pointed to last week’s assault on the port of Primorsk as another impactful blow that “inflicted significant damage” on Russia’s export capabilities. Meanwhile, in Bashkortostan, local officials insist a recent drone attack won’t slow oil output.
On the ground, Ukrainian troops report fresh advances in the border districts of northern Sumy region, where Russian forces had been trying to establish a foothold for months. Russia, in turn, says its units struck Ukrainian deployment sites and pushed into enemy defensive lines.
Rising Tensions on the Energy Front
Amid these battlefield moves, the U.S. has ramped up calls for NATO allies to toughen energy sanctions on Russia to cut off its revenue streams. Former President Donald Trump chimed in over the weekend, saying the U.S. stands ready to slap new energy penalties on Moscow—provided all NATO members stop buying Russian oil at the same time.
The EU remains on track to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028, despite U.S. pressure to speed up the timeline.
Reference(s):
Ukraine claims strike on oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad region
cgtn.com
