Ukraine says it hit major Russian oil refinery and airfield as Moscow reports eight dead
Ukraine launched overnight strikes deep inside Russia, targeting a major oil refinery and an airfield hosting strategic bombers, while Russia reported eight deaths and 635 drones shot down.
Ukraine's military has said it carried out overnight strikes deep inside Russian territory, hitting a major oil refinery and an airfield that houses Russia's strategic aviation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Engels airfield and the refinery, both located in the Saratov region about 600 kilometres from Ukraine's border, were struck. He also mentioned an oil depot in the Kaluga region and a drone launch site in Bryansk.
Russian officials reported eight people killed in the attacks and said 635 drones were shot down or intercepted. They also reported another strike on a warehouse of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries.
Meanwhile, Moscow said its forces had attacked two Ukrainian ports and two vessels in the Black Sea overnight. Later, Ukraine said one person was killed in a Russian strike on a postal terminal near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.
Both sides have recently intensified attacks on major cities, energy facilities and warehouses, while the vast front line remains largely static and US-led mediation efforts to end the war have shown no breakthrough.
In a social media post, Zelensky described the latest Ukrainian strikes as "our long-range sanctions" against Russian facilities that he says finance Moscow's war. He called the Engels airfield and the Saratov oil refinery "strategic facilities".
The Ukrainian military said in a separate statement that its attack sparked a fire at the airfield, which is one of the main bases of Russia's strategic aviation. Tu-95MC and Tu-160 bombers regularly use Engels to launch missile strikes against Ukraine, according to the statement.
Saratov regional Governor Roman Busargin admitted that a drone attack had caused damage to civilian infrastructure in Saratov and Engels. He later said two people were killed.
Separately, three people were reported killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a civilian vehicle in Russia's Udmurtia region, and another three in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine.
In the Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev described a strike on a Wildberries warehouse that ignited a fire as "yet another terrorist act" by Ukraine. He reported no casualties.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has hit several Wildberries logistics hubs, calling them legitimate targets that supply the Russian military with drone components, navigation equipment and other gear.
Wildberries, often described as Russia's Amazon, employs around 48,000 people. The attacks have reportedly had a serious impact on Russia's economy, especially on hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses that rely on the retailer.
At the same time, Russia has been targeting warehouses of Ukraine's Nova Poshta postal company and major online retailers like Rozetka. Rozetka said its largest warehouse was hit overnight by Russian drones, but reported no injuries.
