Under the cover of night, Ukrainian forces say they struck the Kirishi oil refinery in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, igniting explosions and a roaring fire. This facility pumps out around 80 different petroleum products1from gasoline for cars to aviation fueland is a key supplier for Russia’s military. 🚀🛢️
Russia’s Defense Ministry responded by stating that its air defenses shot down at least 361 drones, along with four guided aerial bombs and a U.S.-made HIMARS missile. No injuries were reported, according to the governor of the Leningrad region.
Ukraine’s drone command confirmed the attack, calling it “a successful strike” that aims to tighten the chokehold on Russia’s energy lifelines. 🎯
In his nightly video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “The most effective sanctions… are firing on Russian oil plants, on their terminals, on their oil depots. They have significantly restricted the Russian oil industry, and this significantly limits the war.”
He also highlighted last week’s first-ever strike on the port of Primorsk, describing the damage as “significant.” Meanwhile, in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, local authorities say an oil company will keep production steady despite recent drone attacks.
On the ground, Ukrainian forces have made advances in the border districts of northern Sumy region, pushing back against long-term Russian footholds. At the same time, Russia claims to have hit temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
🌍 Rising Tensions: In recent weeks, the United States has been urging NATO members to toughen energy sanctions on Russia to cut off revenue streams. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is ready to impose fresh energy sanctions—but only if all NATO nations stop buying Russian oil. Meanwhile, the EU plans to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028 despite external pressure to move faster.
As the energy war intensifies, experts say every targeted refinery and oil depot brings a new layer of pressure on Russia’s economy—and potentially a faster path to peace.
Reference(s):
Ukraine claims strike on oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad region
cgtn.com
