By Eniola Amadu
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone strikes of the war overnight, with at least 361 drones aimed at targets across Russia, including the country’s second-largest oil refinery, Russian officials said on Sunday.
The assault sparked a fire at the Kirishi refinery in the Leningrad region, though authorities reported no casualties.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted hundreds of drones, along with four guided aerial bombs and a U.S.-made HIMARS missile, though it provided few details on the impact of the attacks.
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In the Leningrad region, Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that three drones were destroyed near the Kirishi oil refinery and that falling debris caused a blaze, which was quickly extinguished.
Ukraine’s drone command later claimed responsibility, saying it had carried out a “successful strike” against the facility.
The refinery, operated by Surgutneftegaz, processes about 17.7 million metric tons of crude annually — roughly 6.4% of Russia’s total refining capacity — making it a key hub in Moscow’s energy infrastructure.
Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, has faced mounting international pressure as the war nears its third year.
The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain deadlocked.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington is prepared to impose new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, but only if all NATO members commit to halting purchases of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, the European Union reaffirmed last week its plan to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028, resisting calls from Washington to accelerate the timeline.
Russia responded to the overnight strikes with military displays of its own.
On Sunday, its Defence Ministry announced the test launch of a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile in the Barents Sea and confirmed that Su-34 fighter-bombers had carried out joint strikes with Belarusian forces as part of ongoing military exercises.
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Despite the attacks, regional officials in Bashkortostan said oil production would continue at normal levels after a separate drone strike on Saturday.
