Moscow, Russia – Ukrainian forces claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian oil refinery in the vicinity of Moscow, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The strike follows a major Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
According to a statement released by the Ukrainian military, the Ryazan oil refinery was targeted, resulting in multiple explosions and a substantial fire. The statement emphasized that this action is part of a broader effort to diminish Russia’s capacity to conduct missile and bomb strikes.
The Ryazan refinery is located approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Ukraine has increasingly focused on striking targets within Russia, particularly oil refineries, in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations. These operations began in February 2022.
In response, Pavel Malkov, the governor of the Ryazan region, stated that Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 25 Ukrainian drones over the region overnight. He added that debris from the downed drones caused a fire at the premises of a local company.
The Ukrainian attack comes a day after Russian forces targeted residential buildings across Kyiv, resulting in multiple fatalities. Officials in the Dnipropetrovsk region of central Ukraine reported that a Russian drone strike injured several individuals in the city of Nikopol. Nikopol is situated on the Dnipro River, which serves as a frontline between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
On the opposite bank of the river, a Moscow-appointed official, Yevgeny Balitsky, reported that a Ukrainian drone struck power lines, causing electricity outages for approximately 44,000 customers. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in drone strikes and other forms of military action.
