Ukraine has carried out drone strikes on two Russian oil refineries, intensifying its air attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the military hit the Slavyansk and Yaroslavl refineries, located about 300 and 700 kilometers from the front line, respectively, using long-range drones overnight.
"We continue our operations that weaken Russia's ability to wage this war," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Sunday, adding that each attack "means fewer resources serving Russia's war machine."
A fire broke out at the oil refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani in Russia's Krasnodar region, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on his Telegram channel, and several houses were damaged by debris. He reported one person was killed in the drone attack.
Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Yevrayev also reported on Telegram that the region had been under attack from Ukrainian drones and said exits from the city had been temporarily closed. In the Belgorod region, another person was killed in the Shebekinsky district following 64 Ukrainian drone attacks in 24 hours, according to Russia's Tass news agency.
Russia shot down "a total of 117 enemy drones of various types," the governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, said. "Drones dropped explosive devices on our territory seven times."
Last week, Ukraine used long-range drones to hit two oil facilities in Kerch in Crimea and the port of Kavkaz, both used to supply fuel to Russian front lines. It also struck electricity plants, prompting the suspension of fuel sales in Crimea. The continued campaign of massive drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and fuel storage sites has affected the country's economy, triggering fuel shortages.
As the more than four-year war grinds on, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow is ready to renew talks on ending the fighting. However, he stated that these would be on the basis of talks held in Istanbul in 2022, which would include Russia's demand that Ukraine surrender the Donbas region.
Source: www.aljazeera.com