
Ukraine launches second major drone attack against Russian oil refineries in a week
Ukraine has launched its second major drone attack in a week against Russian oil refineries hundreds of miles from its borders.
Drone strikes were reported by local officials across seven Russian regions as footage appeared on social media showing explosions and fires at the Lukoil refinery in the southern Volgograd area. It is more than 260 miles from the nearest Ukrainian forces.
Intelligence sources said the refinery had been hit by four Ukrainian drones, causing 'significant damage'.
The Ukrainian military, claiming responsibility for the strike in partnership with the country's intelligence services, said the refinery was 'involved in supplying the Russian army'.
Volgograd governor Andrei Bocharov acknowledged the attack but claimed all the drones had been shot down. He added that the debris from one of the downed drones had struck the facility and caused a small fire that was 'promptly extinguished'. He added that one refinery worker was hospitalised.
In the Smolensk region west of Moscow, governor Vasily Anokhin claimed there had been a "massive drone attack" on civilian infrastructure. He said one drone was intercepted while attempting to strike a nuclear energy facility.
Nearby, air defences also destroyed several drones around the town of Andreapol, home to approximately 8,000 people, in the Tver region, according to the local governor.
Russia 's defence ministry said in a statement on Friday that 49 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the country overnight, including 25 in the southern Rostov region and eight in the Volgograd region.
Ukraine has targeted the Lukoil refinery in Volgograd before. Last May, an early morning drone strike claimed by Ukraine's intelligence services caused a fire in some of the facility's oil processing units.
It is also the second time the refinery has been affected by fires this month. In the early hours of 15 January, an explosion and then fire broke out in the area due to what local authorities claimed was an internal issue.
At the start of the year, Ukraine's intelligence services also conducted a cyberattack on Lukoil, which is one of Russia's largest oil and gas companies, preventing customers from making payments at gas stations via the mobile app.
Ukraine has carried out frequent air attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots and industrial sites in an attempt to cripple key infrastructure underpinning Russia's war effort.
More than a dozen refineries have been hit in the past two months, many of which are located hundreds of miles inside Russia.
This week, Ukrainian forces claimed to have struck and set on fire a Lukoil refinery, Russia's fourth largest, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, east of Moscow.
A Ukrainian drone attack last week also forced a refinery in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow, to suspend operations.
Russia is currently feeding more crude oil through its refineries in the hope of boosting fuel exports after new US sanctions on Russian tankers and traders made exports of unprocessed crude more difficult, sources told Reuters this week.
Elsewhere, the Ukrainian military said on Friday its missile and artillery forces had hit a Russian army command post in the Russian region of Kursk – where Ukraine is trying to hold a swathe of territory taken in two surprise offensives in the past few months – as a part of its effort to disrupt Moscow's troops operations and logistics. "As a result of the coordinated and precision strike, the enemy's command and control post was destroyed," the general staff said on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a barrage of drones on Ukraine in an overnight attack on Friday, injuring four people and damaging a hospital and a grain warehouse in the southern Odesa region, officials said.
Ukraine's air defences shot down 59 of 102 Russian drones, the air force said. It said that 37 drones were 'lost', referring to the use of electronic warfare to redirect them.
Russian drones damaged the northeastern Sumy region, the Odesa region in the south, and the central Cherkasy region.
Oleh Kiper, the Odesa regional governor, said that four civilians, including a doctor, were injured in drone attacks targeting the city of Chornomorsk.
The strikes also partially disrupted electricity supplies in the city and damaged the city's hospital, an administrative building, a grain warehouse, a residential house, and several trucks, he said on the Telegram app.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Oleksandr Usyk extends invite to Donald Trump ahead of Daniel Dubois fight
The Ukrainian is very passionate when it comes to the topic of his beloved country and has now offered Trump the chance to experience what day-to-day life is like in his homeland Oleksandr Usyk has offered Donald Trump the chance to experience what life is like in his beloved Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The Ukrainian is hoping the president of the United States will oblige so he can see the ongoing war and witness what happens on a daily basis in his homeland. "Just for one week. I'll give him my house," Usyk told BBC Sport. "Please live in Ukraine and see what is going on. Every night, there are bombs and planes flying over my house. Bombs and rockets. Every night. It's enough." In recent times, Trump has repeatedly blamed Volodymyr Zelensky and former US president Joe Biden for the war - despite Russia invading Ukraine first in 2014, five years before Zelensky won the presidency, and then launching a full-scale invasion in 2022. Addressing Trump, Usyk reminded the 78-year-old that he promised to end the war 'within 24 hours' if re-elected for a second term. However, since taking office back in January, Trump has failed to fulfil that promise. Usyk has now called for Trump to renew his efforts and help bring the conflict to an end. Trump has met with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky since the beginning of the year. Tensions between Trump and the Ukrainian president have been high since a heated confrontation at the White House back in February - where the US leader criticised Zelensky for not starting peace talks with Russia earlier. However, the US president has taken action to improve relations with Moscow. His administration has sought to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and has held negotiations with Moscow that have cut out Kyiv. Back in March, Trump said he had a "great" phone call with Putin - which prompted the Russian president to gift the American a portrait as a gift a week later. As for Usyk, the heavyweight champion has always been very passionate when it comes to his country. The 38-year-old has visited the front lines several times and regularly keeps in touch with Ukrainian soldiers. "It's difficult to find balance when your family is in Kyiv," he told CNN, referring to his wife and two daughters, who still live there. "It's hard, but I can switch off and do my job, and then I can help my country even more later on. I'm completely focused on the fight and my training," he added. Usyk is currently preparing to face Daniel Dubois - which takes place on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, London. The Ukrainian has not fought since defeating Tyson Fury for a second time back in December. Usyk and Dubois have met before. The pair went head-to-head back in 2023 - with the Ukrainian going on to score stoppage victory in the ninth round. The fight was not without drama after 'Triple D' dropped Usyk in the fifth round with a shot to the body that was later deemed a low blow. The Brit has since been on a roll and comes into the clash off the back of a knockout victory over Anthony Joshua.


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Abramovich breaks silence on Chelsea sale with return hint in rare statement
Former Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich wishes for a return to the club but has vowed never to own a football club again. The Russian oligarch was in situ for the most successful period in the Blues' history. Having completed a takeover of the West London side in 2003, he oversaw five Premier League successes, five FA Cup wins and three League Cups wins. He also helped Chelsea end their long wait for a European crown in 2012, before adding a second Champions League title in 2021. But Abramovich was forced to pull out of the club a year later having been sanctioned by the UK government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Todd Boehly and Clearlake's consortium then sealed a £4.25bn takeover. And speaking out on his exit, Abramovich has claimed he wants to return to Chelsea to bid farewell to the club having drawn a line under football ownership entirely. Speaking in a new book titled Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, he said: 'Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that," the Daily Mail report. 'I don't have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role. There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds, if there were an initiative that could make a difference. But as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.' Chelsea in race against time to beat FIFA Club World Cup deadline and seal TWO transfers 'I wore Chelsea's No. 9 before Liam Delap – friends and family laughed when I got it' Following his sale of Chelsea, Abramovich was ordered to send £2.5bn of the proceeds to aid Ukraine. But as it stands, that amount remains in a UK bank account, with the government now threatening to sue the 58-year-old. A joint statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy read: "The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. "We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible." What is a success for Chelsea next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below Abramovich commented on those accusations, giving them short shrift. 'There is an old Russian saying, 'The dogs bark but the caravan keeps moving,' and that fits here,' he also told the book's author, Nick Purewal. 'Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda. In the end, I have done what I have done simply to try to help.' Ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel recently revealed that Abramovich still harbours frustration over the circumstances of Chelsea's sale. Mikel said: 'It's just unfortunate what happened: he lost the football club. I still speak to people close to him and it still pains him. He's still angry about what happened. 'He's not happy that he lost his 'baby' because Chelsea Football Club was his football club. He really cared about the football club, not just the players but the fans.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv
Horror images show the devastation in Ukraine after another night from hell at the hands of the Kremlin UNDER SIEGE Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin has killed at least two people in a terrifying drone blitz which tore through a Ukrainian maternity ward. Russia directly attacked Kyiv with 315 drones and missiles and demolished large parts of the southern port of Odesa overnight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A woman runs past a warehouse which is on fire following Russia's attacks on Kyiv Credit: Reuters 4 An explosion lights up the sky over the capital Credit: Reuters 4 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP At least four people have been hospitalised in Kyiv with seven out of the city's 10 districts being impacted. The devastating aerial attacks sparked intense recovery operations as emergency services battled against fires in residential neighbourhoods. Air raid alerts in Kyiv lasted for around five hours as they first alerted residents at around 5am, according to military data. Russia sent out a 315 drone blitz in the attack, including 250 Shaheds, and seven missiles, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. A harrowing image of the capital's skyline shows how it had been engulfed by a cloud of orange from the numerous blasts. As the sun rose in the morning residents complained they 'could not see the dawn' due to the thick black smoke still lingering in the air. Timur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military district, said on Telegram: "A difficult night for all of us. "Throughout the night, the enemy relentlessly terrorised Kyiv with attack drones. "They targeted civilian infrastructure and peaceful residents of the city." Russia claimed they had only targeted the Ukrainian Artem plant which is where Kyiv produces air-to-air missiles, air-guided weapons, and anti-tank guided missiles. Zelensky also said large swaths of Odesa, Dnipro region, and Chernihiv were all hit overnight. The heroic leader said the night from hell marked one of the "largest attacks" in the gruelling war to date. In Odesa, a maternity hospital and residential buildings were all completely destroyed. Two were killed at the hands of Putin across the city. Speaking on X, Zelensky said: "In Odesa, even a maternity hospital became a Russian target. "Thirteen people were injured. Tragically, there are fatalities. My condolences to the families. "It is vital that the response to this and other similar Russian attacks is not silence from the world, but concrete action." Ukraine now reportedly faces over 500 drone strikes every night, as Russia appears to have stepped up assaults following operation Spiderweb. Earlier this week, Russian drones and missiles were launched at Kyiv again as Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were reportedly unleashed to rain hell on the infamous Snake Island in the Black Sea. Moscow launched a massive strike on Rivne using its Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers to hit Dubny airbase. Another key Ukrainian military airport - Hostomel - was also attacked as Putin sought revenge for the humiliating attack. Polish armed forces command said Nato fighter jets were patrolling due to 'intensive air attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory'. Just days ago, Kharkiv was rocked overnight as 48 kamikaze drones, along with missiles and guided bombs, slammed into residential areas, according to the city's mayor. 'We have a lot of damage,' Ihor Terekhov said. More than 50 explosions rocked Kharkiv, with the mayor adding it was 'the most powerful attack' on the city of the 39-month war.