Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ukrainian military says it hit Russian oil refineries overnight, causing fires, while Russia downs 11 Ukrainian drones, no casualties reported.
As reported by The Guardian, the Ukrainian military carried out overnight strikes on Russian oil refineries in Krasnodar and Syzran.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries in Krasnodar and Syzran
Kyiv’s military reported multiple explosions and a fire at the Krasnodar oil refinery in southern Russia. The refinery produces around three million tonnes of light petroleum products annually.
Russian officials confirmed drone debris struck one of the refinery’s units. The fire affected an area measuring 300 square metres but was later extinguished, authorities said.
Officials said all refinery workers were safely evacuated and no one was injured.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that 11 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Krasnodar region overnight.
The Ukrainian military said a fire broke out at the Syzran oil facility in Samara. Before August, the refinery could process 8.5 million tonnes of oil each year.
The governor of Samara confirmed an attempted strike on an industrial site overnight, though he gave no further information.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s views on the Zaporizhzhia attack
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said one person was killed. Dozens were injured following a Russian strike on a five-story residential building in Zaporizhzhia.
He stated,
“All emergency services are engaged at the site.”
According to him, Volyn, Dnipro, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, and Chernihiv regions were all impacted by the strikes.
Mr Zelenskyy said,
“Numerous fires broke out, and civilian infrastructure – homes and businesses – suffered the most damage,”
Adding Russia launched
“nearly 540 drones, 8 ballistic missiles, and 37 other types of missiles against civilian life.”
He posted on X,
“We saw the world’s response to the previous strike. But now, as Russia once again shows its utter disregard for words, we count on real action. It is absolutely clear that Moscow used the time meant for preparing a leaders-level meeting to organise new massive attacks.”
The Ukrainian president added,
“The only way to reopen a window of opportunity for diplomacy is through tough measures against all those bankrolling the Russian army and effective sanctions against Moscow itself – banking and energy sanctions. This war won’t stop with political statements alone; real steps are needed. We expect action from the US, Europe, and the entire world.”
Ivan Fedorov’s stance on the Russian attack
Regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported that three children were among 24 people injured in Zaporizhzhia following a Russian attack. He confirmed that one person had died.
He said Russia’s strike on Zaporizhzhia cut power to 25,000 residents. The city’s energy facility reported damaged equipment, with repair work underway.
What did Kim Jong-un say about North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia?
According to AFP, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with the families of troops killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, offering condolences for their “unbearable pain.”
The intelligence from South Korea and the West said, North Korea deployed over 10,000 troops to Russia in 2024, mainly in the Kursk region, along with artillery, missiles, and long-range rockets.
Mr Jong-un stated,
“I thought a lot about other martyrs’ families who were not present there. So, I had this meeting arranged as I wanted to meet and console the bereaved families of all the heroes and relieve them of their sorrow and anguish even a little.”
The leader pledged to build a monument in the capital and dedicate a street to the families of the fallen, while the state would provide full support to the soldiers’ children.
He added,
“My heart breaks and aches more at the sight of those little children. I, our state and our army will take full responsibility for them and train them admirably as staunch and courageous fighters like their fathers.”
Key facts about the Ukraine-Russia war
The conflict began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Millions have been affected, with up to 1,000,000 killed or wounded, including around 250,000 Russian troops.
Over 10.6 million people have been displaced, including 6.9 million refugees and 3.7 million internally displaced. About 12.7 million people in Ukraine now require humanitarian assistance, mostly women and children.