Ukraine continues to carry out daily long-range drone and missile strikes using domestically developed weapons, targeting Russian oil facilities for several months now.
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This campaign by Ukrainian forces has caused a fuel crisis in Russia, which is very unfavorable for the Kremlin.
Night strikes caused fires at the Lukoil oil refinery in Russia’s Perm region, more than 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine, and at the refinery in Ryazan, about 400 kilometers from the border, separate statements reported by the Ukrainian Security Service and General Staff said.
According to Ukraine, the combined annual production capacity of these oil refineries is about 220 million barrels of oil, and they significantly contribute to Russia’s military efforts and government revenues.
The news agency AP has not yet been able to independently verify these Ukrainian claims.
Ryazan region governor Pavel Malkov said only that six people were taken to hospital after the drone strike.
He also stated that drone debris caused fires in “industrial areas.”
Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries, often compared to Amazon and also targeted by Ukraine in recent days, reported evacuating employees from its facility in Ryazan but did not provide further details.
Russia has modern air defense systems, but it is difficult to fully protect its vast territory.
The mentioned strikes were carried out a few hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, seeking to encourage the United States to provide more vital aid to Ukraine, which is fighting a much more powerful enemy.
“Russia must feel that every day of this war will cost it more and more. We must weaken the aggressor and maintain pressure so that this war ends sooner,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
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The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that its air defense forces shot down 295 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions and occupied Crimea.
Recent Ukrainian achievements in the fight against Russia have impressed Washington and helped restore US favor after Trump was reluctant to support Kyiv early in his second term. His stance threatened that Ukraine and Europe would have to face Russian aggression alone.
Zelensky said the meeting with the US president was good, and Trump called the meeting a great honor. The talks were held behind closed doors.
“Many things were discussed. The meeting went very well!” Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social.
Seeking more sanctions against Russia, Zelensky said he also met with representatives of both US Senate parties in Washington, with more than 60 senators attending the meeting.
The Ukrainian leader also met with Lockheed Martin representatives – a few days after receiving a Raytheon delegation in Kyiv.
These US arms manufacturers are a crucial source of modern weapons, such as Patriot air defense systems, which Ukraine also hopes to produce.
Earlier this month, Trump said he would grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, which it needs to fight Russian ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, the new chief of the Ukrainian army, Major General Mykhailo Drapat, announced on social media on Wednesday that he had held his first phone conversation with General Christopher G. Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who also commands the US Army Europe headquarters.
“I outlined my vision for Ukraine’s victory and the capabilities needed to achieve it,” Drapat said, who was appointed to this post last week during a government reshuffle.
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