Ukraine says two Russian oil refineries hit, as Moscow targets energy sites
Ukraine's president says the overnight strikes aim to limit revenues Russia "uses to finance" its war.
Ukraine has reported carrying out extensive overnight strikes deep within Russian territory, targeting two oil refineries, as well as patrol boats and other vessels in the Black Sea.
Thick plumes of smoke were observed rising from the location of the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery in Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Bashneft-Novoil and Slavneft-Yanos refineries were hit in these attacks, which he stated are intended to curb oil revenues that Moscow utilizes to fund its conflict.
Mikhail Evraev, the governor of the Yaroslavl region, reported that the Slavneft-Yanos refinery caught fire following what he described as the "largest enemy drone attack," resulting in four injuries.
Concurrently, Ukraine announced that five individuals died in Russian drone assaults in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. Russia's military, in turn, declared that it targeted fuel, energy, and transport infrastructure.
In recent weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have escalated attacks on major urban centers, energy facilities, and warehouses. This intensification occurs as the extensive front line remains largely unchanged and all diplomatic efforts to end the war have yielded no progress.
Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Zelensky stated on Thursday that the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan republic, which was struck, is approximately 1,300km (808 miles) from the Ukrainian border, while Slavneft-Yanos is nearly 700km (435 miles) away.
The Ukrainian president also confirmed that "two military patrol boats and shadow fleet vessels were hit" in the Black Sea. He was referring to tankers employed by Russia for the illicit export of sanctioned oil.
"Russia must choose peace," Zelensky asserted, adding that Ukrainian attacks were "strengthening chances for diplomacy."
Evraev reported that 93 drones were intercepted over the Yaroslavl region during the night.
He stated, "Falling debris hit the oil refinery's storage tanks. Emergency services are working to extinguish the fire."
BBC Verify corroborated multiple videos and images shared on social media, which depicted significant smoke plumes emanating from the refinery. One verified image appeared to show at least four fires at the site.
Energy-generating infrastructure in Yaroslavl has been targeted by Ukraine on several occasions.
Authorities in Bashkortostan have not yet publicly commented on the reported Ukrainian attack.
In Ukraine, three people were killed in the town of Balakliya, Kharkiv region, during an overnight Russian drone attack, according to the country's state emergencies service (DSNS). It reported that private residential houses were targeted, with fires breaking out in two buildings.
Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional administration, later confirmed that an additional two people died when drones attacked the train station in Lozova, and eight others were injured.
Meanwhile, the Russian military stated that its forces intercepted or shot down 605 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions. In its latest operational update, the military indicated it struck Ukraine's fuel, energy, and transport facilities, as well as drone storage sites.