Ukraine said it attacked one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries and a key hub in the country’s crude-pipeline network, intensifying its campaign against crucial infrastructure to limit Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
Russia repelled Ukrainian attacks on four oil refineries and is assessing damage at only one of them, Interfax reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil assets, particularly refineries, are a response to Moscow’s almost daily strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, Black Sea ports and ships, as well as other civilian targets. The strikes have damaged Russia’s downstream industry and prompted the government to restrict most exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment whether its crude flows via the Samara oil pumping station were affected. (Updates with comments from Ukraine’s president and Russia’s deputy prime minister)
He said the threat to refineries remains elevated, though protection measures have reduced the scale of damage.
