Ukraine launched a major overnight drone offensive this past weekend, deploying at least 361 drones across Russia, including a successful strike on the Kirishi oil refinery, one of the country’s largest, according to Reuters. No injuries were reported, but a fire was sparked at the facility. This attack is part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to cripple Russia’s energy infrastructure by targeting high-tech components like catalytic crackers, which are essential to refining operations and difficult to replace under Western sanctions. President Zelenskyy called the strikes the most effective form of sanctions, severely limiting Russia’s oil industry and war funding. Kyiv Independent’s Dominic Culverwell noted the long-term strategic impact of disabling equipment that Russia struggles to replace. Meanwhile, the US continues to pressure NATO allies to tighten energy sanctions, as geopolitical tensions deepen. They report:

Ukraine launched a large attack with at least 361 drones targeting Russia overnight, sparking a brief fire at the vast Kirishi oil refinery in Russia’s northwest, Russian officials said on Sunday, reporting no injuries. […]

“The most effective sanctions – the sanctions that work the fastest – are firing on Russian oil plants, on their terminals, on their oil depots,” Zelenskiy said. “They have significantly restricted the Russian oil industry, and this significantly limits the war.” […]

Kirishi refines about 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude, or 6.4% of the country’s total.

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