Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south and killing at least two people, Russian authorities said Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin acknowledged his country is going through a “difficult period.”
Ukraine has markedly stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities in recent months, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for its invasion — now in its fifth year — and make Russians feel the consequences.
The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries. According to Western analysts, it has also slowed Moscow’s efforts on the battlefield, heaping pressure on the Kremlin to come to the negotiating table.
“Our ‘long-range sanctions’ reached two oil refineries in Russia,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday. “Each (strike) means a reduction in the resources that fuel the Russian war machine, and another step toward peace.”
Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at the refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, a town in Russia's Krasnodar region, east of occupied Crimea, according to Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev. The falling debris killed one person in Slavyansk and wounded another in a nearby village, local authorities said.
The Slavyansk site is one of southern Russia’s major refineries, processing close to 4 million tons of crude per year, according to its operator’s website. It is also a key source of petroleum products intended for export through Russia’s Black Sea ports, including fuel oil, naphtha and marine fuel.
Zelenskyy also claimed that a second Russian refinery, in the Yaroslavl region around 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was hit during the nighttime strikes.
There were no immediate reports from Russian authorities about the strike on the Yaroslavl refinery. Local Gov. Mikhail Evraev reported on Sunday morning that some roads between Moscow and the region's capital, Yaroslavl, were temporarily closed due to “an enemy attack by Ukrainian drones.”
Yaroslavl's airport also briefly closed overnight, along with others in southern and western Russia, according to the country's civil aviation agency.
For months, Ukraine has been stepping up attacks on energy facilities deep inside Russia. Despite a raft of Western sanctions, Moscow remains among the world's top exporters of oil and natural gas.
More recently, Ukraine has attempted to choke off fuel deliveries to Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in early 2014. Last weekend, Kremlin-installed officials in Crimea suspended gasoline sales to civilians, after Kyiv's targeting of supply routes triggered the worst energy crisis there since the annexation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Sunday that the country was “going through a difficult period,” but insisted that Moscow would “honor all its social obligations” to citizens. He did not directly reference the Ukrainian strikes or fuel shortages.
“Naturally, we are adjusting certain plans in light of the current situation, but all strategically important (domestic) development programs will undoubtedly be implemented in full,” Putin said at a conference of his ruling United Russia party.
“We will continue to build housing and roads, create new, modern, high-paying jobs, and support domestic businesses,” he said. “We are going through a difficult period, but this has taught us a great deal, and allowed us to grasp the very essence of what it means to be a Russian citizen.”
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Moscow was actively reviewing fuel export agreements to avoid compromising domestic needs.
Fuel sales to civilians were also being restricted in Russia’s Irkutsk region in Siberia, thousands of kilometers (miles) from the Ukrainian border, local Gov. Igor Kobzev announced on Sunday.
Drivers will be barred from buying more than 50 liters (13 gallons) of fuel per vehicle per day at state-run Rosneft gas stations in the province, Kobzev said, adding that other gas stations may set lower limits.
At least two private gas station networks in Siberia — KreisNeft in the Irkutsk region and Elke Auto in the Tomsk region farther west — said earlier this month that they were limiting sales due to supply disruptions.
Also on Sunday, a Russian aerial bomb killed two people in Zaporizhzhia — a city in southern Ukraine — and injured 16 others, including two children, said regional administration head Ivan Fedorov.
In Russia's border region of Belgorod, Ukrainian drone strikes killed one person and injured another earlier on Sunday, according to acting local Gov. Alexander Shuvayev.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 213 Ukrainian drones during the night, including over Russia, occupied Crimea and the Black and Azov seas.
Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 142 long-range strike drones and eight missiles overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Of those, 125 drones and seven missiles were struck down, the air force said.
© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
29 Comments
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TaiwanIsNotChina
Maybe don't try to wipe free countries off of the map, Pootie Poot.
Underworld
If the US won't impose sanctions on Russian oil, Ukraine will impose their own "kinetic sanctions".
IVO
Another evidence that Kiev junta is desperate as cant win at battle on front doing this-damaging russian civilian infrastructures and targeting russian civilians.
Kiev junta is desperate to show activity to its sponsors from abroad and to pretend through biased media news that they are winning and prevailing.
Old proverb says who laugh last laugh best.
Keep this in mind dear Volodymyr.
Russia will fix this temporary problem soon and will keep going.Kiev junta have zero dot zero chance to win over Russia.
Underworld
IVO
They are targeting oil infrastructure to halt the military and deprive Russia its main source of income that keeps this war going. It will stop as soon as Putin stops.
Also, Ukraine are not targeting civilians.
Because they are winning and prevailing.
And what if it can't?
Keep telling yourself that.
Peter14
Great to see Ukraine taking the initiative, and for the last couple of months, liberate more territory than it lost. The tide slowly turning against Russia and its invasion.
okinawarides
Maybe don't try to wipe free countries off of the map, Pootie Poot.
Russians are not trying to wipe Ukraine off the map but hey don't want NATO threatening them from Ukraine just the same the US would not want / allow Mexico or Canada to join a Russia/China led military organization.
Also, Ukraine are not targeting civilians.
Unfortunately they are hitting civilians, it's in this article and many others. Trump admin should really refocus on and push strongly the Ukraine peace talks. Too many civilians on both sides have died already.
HopeSpringsEternal
This proxy war of attrition, like above, favors Russia, because of Ukraine's growing severe population and financial problems.
Ukraine cannot retake territory lost to their former citizens who are now legally Russian citizens as its military rapidly shrinking as a result, just like it's civilian population as the private sector economy has vanished
Ukraine's primary EU based proxy supporters fading, as Ukraine "Hawks" like Macron, Starmer, Merz now lame ducks, as EU voters will not easily authorize more proxy war debt issuance beyond $105B for 2026 & 2027
Ukraine's real economy approx. $500B smaller today vs. 2021, Ukraine surviving on proxy partner $handouts just barely, thus severe depopulation as citizens flee abroad, few Ukrainians believe they can prevail, worry of WWIII etc.
Underworld
okinawarides
Maybe don't try to wipe free countries off of the map, Pootie Poot.
They are. Putin wants to turn the whole of Ukraine into Russia and remove all traces of Ukrainian language and culture.
NATO have never threatened Russia from Ukraine.
Actually, the US would be fine with that. They already have Russian allies close by.
Also, Ukraine are not targeting civilians.
Sometimes civilians do get hit, which is unfortunate.
In reality, Trump has failed. He needs serious negotiators on the job, not the clowns that they keep sending.
Agreed. All for Putin's ego.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Your daily warnings of imminent collapse have lasted 4.5 years now. Don't you think you may be wrong...?
TaiwanIsNotChina
We have not heard from Putin that he accepts that Ukraine will run its own elections and weapons purchases so we will take what Putin says over what you say.
If you want good neighbors you have to be a good neighbor.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I'm sure Ukrainians feel more confident everytime a top blows on another russian refinery.
okinawarides
We have not heard from Putin that he accepts that Ukraine will run its own elections and weapons purchases so we will take what Putin says over what you say.
Not the same as "wiping country off the map".
okinawarides
TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 10:17 am JST
I'm sure Ukrainians feel more confident everytime a top blows on another russian refinery.
Of course, that is natural.
HopeSpringsEternal
All observed Zelensky begging for additional financial support at G-7, but from US Govt., none is forthcoming and EU economic situation grows more dire by daily, EU voters none too happy with rapidly falling real wages and GDP per capita, now less than half the US
Ukraine has insufficient people, resources and time to continue this proxy war, as Zelensky waited too long, all recognize it, Russian troops now steadily advancing in east
Peace needed ASAP, Ukraine a failed state
TaiwanIsNotChina
Ukraine's surrender is not needed ASAP. russia is turning into a failed state.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You see, being run by Moscow is a fate worse than death for people that know it well.
okinawarides
NATO have never threatened Russia from Ukraine.
Apparently Kremlin wants to make sure they never do.
Please, now you are just being ridiculous.
No.
Underworld
okinawarides
Not the same as "wiping country off the map".
When Ukrainian schoolchildren in Russian-occupied regions of the country return to the classroom following the summer holidays, they will no longer be able to receive even minimal instruction in their country’s national language. This blanket ban on Ukrainian language education is the latest stage in a Kremlin campaign to extinguish all traces of Ukrainian identity as Vladimir Putin pursues an extreme form of eliminationist imperialism in the heart of twenty-first century Europe.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/a-ukraine-without-ukrainians-putin-is-erasing-europes-largest-nation/
HopeSpringsEternal
Russia's resource is wealth is hundreds of times the value of the EU economy now, currencies have been badly damaged by this global proxy war and thus Russia will never be a failed state. This is the harsh reality.
Ukraine's military rapidly shrinking, population, especially youth fleeing this madness, the country is hollowing out, their future is being destroyed, they can never prevail against the far larger nuclear armed Russia, all know it
Underworld
okinawarides
NATO have never threatened Russia from Ukraine.
Nope. That's just a pretext.
Actually, the US would be fine with that.
Nope. Look at Cuba, Venezuela. Now Trump's military incursions and 1950's CIA involvement aside, the US was fine with them being allies of the USSR/Russia.
They are.
Oh, well you can turn a blind eye to this invasion. The 20,000 kidnaped Ukrainian children in indoctrination camps. The banning of the Ukrainian language in schools in occupied areas. But it is indeed true.
HopeSpringsEternal
US National Security Strategy under the Trump Admin. is Stability with Russia and this means US disengagement from this proxy war (and NATO) continues steadily, and all recognize without the US, Ukraine has no chance
Zelensky needs to save Ukraine, Russia fine with a war of attrition, as it only destroys EU and fuels a multi-polar world, India and China both support Russia for this reason
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
These ridiculous lies are getting tiresome. The Russian economy is in dire straits and getting worse. This isn't a secret.
wallace
Putin has said Russia is suffering from a lack of oil because of the Ukrainian drone attacks on depots and refineries.
HopeSpringsEternal
Sorry some wish to deny destruction of currencies, including the US$, which buys 3X less 'real assets' of any major diversified commodity index than just 5 years ago
Russia, world's largest commodity player, hence they're winning $big, why global inflation remains a problem, Putin was right, multi-polar coming much faster now.
Zelensky needs to recognize above financial calculus is badly squeezing his proxy supporters in EU, elsewhere, just reality, another BIG reason why Peace needed ASAP
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
That's not what Trump has been saying recently:
Trump says 'courageous' Zelenskyy is 'doing pretty well' in war with Russia
Putin needs to save Russia.
No, they aren't because they are losing more men than they are replacing every month.
The EU isn't getting destroyed, the loans that they gave Ukraine are backed by Russian foreign reserves.
India and China don't support Russia, they support India and China getting cheap oil.
HopeSpringsEternal
Actually, Russian oil sales at record levels now, they're just not refining that much, rather exporting oil directly to major refiners in China, India, Indonesia, etc.
Russian economy has done MUCH better than EU since Feb 2022, about 3X more economic growth, while Ukraine's economy is on proxy support subsistence and this ignores the massive increase in Russian 'real' wealth
Zelensky needs to accept above economic reality, why his proxy support is steadily falling, as his EU partners aunder huge economic stress, as their currencies have lost so much purchasing power, EU lacks energy, etc.
wallace
Drone campaigns and subsequent fires have disabled nearly 20% of Russia's total oil refining capacity.
Over 50 Russian regions have reported fuel supply issues, with at least 15 regions forced to implement strict rationing (such as limits of 50 liters per vehicle).
The Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula has been hit exceptionally hard, forcing local authorities to temporarily suspend civilian gasoline sales and reserve supplies strictly for the military.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Just like how you give no credence to Iran being considered a threat, so does the rest of the world not consider NATO a threat.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Zelenskyy needs to save Ukraine by fully stopping the disgusting aggressor.