Ukraine Strikes Two More Russian Oil Refineries as Energy War Continues

Ukraine struck two oil refineries inside Russia overnight as it continued its campaign against Moscow's energy industry, Euronews reported. Ukraine's air force said its own defenses had shot down six Russian ballistic missiles, one anti-ship missile, and 125 drones during the same period, underscoring that both sides are sustaining large exchanges.

Russian accounts emphasize interceptions and civilian harm. State agency TASS reported that air defenses destroyed more than 190 Ukrainian drones over a week in the Kherson region, while RIA Novosti said a person was killed in the Zaporizhzhia region in attacks it attributed to Ukrainian forces. Temporary flight restrictions imposed at the airport in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, were lifted, according to Russian state media, a routine sign of drone activity near the capital.

The strategy behind Ukraine's strikes is economic. By degrading refining capacity, Kyiv aims to cut the fuel supply and export revenue that fund Russia's war, accepting that Moscow retaliates against Ukraine's own grid and infrastructure. Independent verification of damage on either side remains difficult, and the two governments' claims diverge.