Zelenskyy: Ukraine strikes oil refinery, defence plant inside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Kyiv struck an oil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan region and a defence industry facility in the Penza region. In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the Ufa oil refinery, one of Russia's largest producers of lubricants located more than 1,300 kilometres from the front line, was hit in the overnight attack. He also said Ukraine struck a military-industrial facility involved in the production of missile components in Russia's Penza region.

Airbase attack and Russian response

Separately, Ukrainian media, citing sources in the Security Service of Ukraine, reported that the agency attacked the Saky military air base in Crimea, one of Russia's main military airfields on the peninsula. The governor of Russia's Penza region said on the Russian social platform Max that air defences shot down a drone over the region, with debris damaging power lines and falling on an unfinished building, but no casualties. There was no immediate Russian comment on Ukraine's claims regarding the Ufa oil refinery or the Saky air base.

Context and casualties

The strikes come as Ukraine continues to target deep inside Russian territory, using domestically produced drones to hit energy and military infrastructure. Russian forces also reportedly launched overnight strikes across southeastern Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding more than a dozen, according to Ukrainian authorities.