Ukraine says major Russian oil refinery and airfield hit, as Moscow reports eight deaths
Russia's military says it attacked Ukraine's ports and vessels in the Black Sea overnight.
Ukraine has reported successful overnight strikes deep within Russian territory, targeting a significant oil refinery and an airfield housing Russian strategic aircraft. President Zelensky characterized these latest Ukrainian actions as "our long-range sanctions" against Russian infrastructure, which he claims funds Moscow's ongoing conflict.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Engels airfield and the refinery, both situated in the Saratov region approximately 600km (373 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were hit. Additionally, an oil depot in the Kaluga region and a drone launch site in Bryansk were also struck.
Russia, in response, stated that eight individuals perished in the Ukrainian strikes and that 635 drones were either shot down or intercepted. Moscow also reported another attack on a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer.
Concurrently, Moscow announced that its forces conducted overnight attacks on two Ukrainian ports and two vessels in the Black Sea. Later on Sunday, Ukraine confirmed one fatality from a Russian strike on a postal terminal near the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently escalated their attacks, focusing on major urban centers, energy facilities, and warehouses. This intensification comes as the extensive front line remains largely static and US-led attempts at mediation to end the war have yielded no breakthroughs. Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a Sunday social media post, President Zelensky referred to the recent Ukrainian strikes as "our long-range sanctions" against Russian facilities that he asserts are financing Moscow's war. He specifically identified the Engels airfield and the Saratov oil refinery as "strategic facilities."
The Ukrainian military, in a separate statement, confirmed that its attack ignited a fire at the Engels airfield, which is one of Russia's primary strategic aviation bases. The military noted that Tu-95MC and Tu-160 bombers regularly utilize Engels to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.
Roman Busargin, the Governor of the Saratov region, acknowledged that "a drone attack caused damage to civilian infrastructure in Saratov and Engels." He later updated the casualty count to two fatalities. Separately, three individuals were reported killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a civilian vehicle in Russia's Udmurtia region, with another three deaths reported in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.
In the Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev described a strike on a Wildberries warehouse that resulted in a fire as "yet another terrorist act" by Ukraine. The governor reported no casualties from this overnight attack. In recent weeks, Ukraine has targeted several Wildberries logistics hubs, justifying these actions by stating that the hubs provide the Russian military with drone components, navigation equipment, and other supplies.
Wildberries, often likened to Russia's Amazon, employs approximately 48,000 people. Ukraine's attacks are believed to have significantly impacted the Russian economy, particularly hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses that rely on the retailer.
Meanwhile, Russia has recently been targeting warehouses belonging to Ukraine's Nova Poshta postal company and major online retailers such as Rozetka. Rozetka confirmed that its largest warehouse was hit overnight by Russian drones but reported no injuries.