Kazakh leader tells Putin to end war as Ukrainian drones hit Siberian refinery
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly urged Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine during a forum in Omsk on Saturday, while Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Siberia and other targets.
In a rare public admonishment of Vladimir Putin, Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the Russian president that the war in Ukraine must end. "All this has to be stopped," Tokayev said during a Russia-Kazakh summit in Omsk, Siberia. He suggested "freezing" the conflict and returning to Istanbul talks to achieve peace. Putin responded that he would brief Tokayev on the war's details.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones targeted a Siberian oil refinery in the Tyumen region, setting it on fire. President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed responsibility, saying Ukraine also struck a military factory in the Kirov region for a second day. Russia reported shooting down over 300 drones across its territory, including in far-flung regions. The strikes disrupted an all-Russian athletics competition in Yekaterinburg and forced online retailer Wildberries to evacuate staff.
In occupied Ukraine, Russian-installed authorities reported 12 people killed, including four children, in a strike on the Azov Sea town of Kyrylivka, accusing Kyiv of targeting a tourist camp. Another person died in the occupied Kherson region. Ukraine has not commented on those attacks. Zelensky said a Russian strike on the town of Sumy killed three people at a Nova Poshta facility, while two others died in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Russia also struck a civilian cargo vessel carrying nearly 2,800 tons of corn leaving Odesa, setting it on fire. Two crew members are missing. The UN has warned of increasing civilian deaths in the nearly 4.5-year war.
Due to Ukrainian drone attacks causing fuel shortages, Russia extended a ban on fuel exports until the end of the year.
