Zelenskyy says Ukraine has hit a Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has hit a Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week

Ukrainian forces struck Russia's major Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. The strikes are part of a broader pressure campaign aimed at forcing the Kremlin to end its invasion of Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.

Zelenskyy stated on social media that Ukrainian forces struck the Ufa oil refinery, one of Russia's largest producers of lubricants. The facility is located more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Ukraine, though another report places it more than 1,300 km, or about 800 miles, from the frontline.

The offensive continued into Thursday with a massive drone attack on the Moscow Oil Refinery, located approximately 9 to 15 kilometers from the Kremlin. According to its official website, this facility accounts for more than a third of the fuel market for the capital region. It had previously been attacked by drones on June 16. Russian media showed thick black smoke and raging fires at the site, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin later stated the fire was largely contained.

The Moscow strike disrupted commercial aviation, temporarily halting flights from four airports. The business daily Kommersant reported more than 500 delayed or cancelled flights. In the surrounding Moscow region, Gov. Andrei Vorobyov reported that a drone hit a residential building in Zhukovsky, leading to an evacuation. Debris also hit a mall, a fitness center, private houses, a car, and an industrial facility, injuring 17 people, including two children.

Zelenskyy described the operations as a fully justified response and retaliation for a strike on a historic monastery in Kyiv. In a voice message to reporters, he warned "Moscow will burn" if Russian attacks continue, adding that the goal is for Russian citizens to feel that Vladimir Putin is the one waging the war.

Strategic Targets and Military Impact

Beyond oil infrastructure, Ukraine struck a military complex in the Penza region, southeast of Moscow. Zelenskyy said the site produces missile components. The General Staff of Ukraine identified the target as NIIFI, an aerospace facility used for satellite components and sensors for cruise and ballistic missiles. Penza regional Gov. Oleg Melnichenko reported that drones hit two industrial plants in the city, injuring two people and damaging a power line and a building under construction.

Western officials and analysts say Ukraine has gained an edge recently through domestically developed drones and missiles. These long-range strikes are reportedly choking Russian supply lines in occupied regions and robbing the Russian army of battlefield momentum. Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov stated Wednesday that Russians now face great problems with delivering infantry to the front line and supplying it.

The impact on Russian energy has been significant. Many regions have introduced fuel rationing, and the independent outlet Agentstvo reported that one out of every four gas stations has implemented some form of restriction.

International Support and Diplomacy

The escalation follows high-level diplomatic activity. Zelenskyy reported an important coordination call with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump. Macron stated that the G7 summit in France was very important for Ukraine, as the U.S. And other supporters vowed further help, although he provided no specific details.

Military aid continues to evolve:

• Sweden signed an agreement on Tuesday to provide Kyiv with Gripen fighter jets to help counter Russian glide bombs.
• Germany and Ukraine signed an agreement to jointly develop an air defense system against ballistic missiles, which Zelenskyy called the start of an anti-ballistic missile coalition.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated Thursday that Russia is on the back foot: militarily, economically and politically.

Zelenskyy also arrived Wednesday in Ireland, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, to seek progress on Ukraine's path to EU membership.

Russian Response and Casualties

The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 179 Ukrainian drones over 16 regions, Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas on Wednesday. On Thursday, the ministry claimed air defenses shot down 555 drones, with nearly 200 approaching Moscow. The Ukrainian air force noted this was roughly double the number of drones Russia launched at Ukraine that night.

While President Putin was in Kazan hosting ASEAN leaders on Thursday, Russian officials reacted with threats. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, warned of harsher blows with more powerful weapons. Some nationalists, including Konstantin Malofeyev, urged the use of nuclear weapons to win at any cost.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukraine persisted. On Wednesday, at least five civilians were killed:

• Two people died when a drone struck a bus in the Kherson region.
• Two people, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed by glide bombs in Kharkiv, where at least 26 others were wounded.
• A 43-year-old woman was killed and three were injured, including a pregnant woman, during overnight attacks on five gas stations in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Next week, the possibility of Ukraine's NATO membership is expected to be discussed at an alliance summit in Turkey.