In brief
Ukraine claims it hit two Russian oil refineries using patrol boats and drones, aiming to curtail Putin’s oil revenues that fund the war. The Bashneft‑Novoil plant in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft‑Yanos site in Yaroslavl were struck over 700‑1,300 km from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian officials reported fires at Slavneft‑Yanos and injury casualties, while Russian forces claim to have shot down 93 drones that night. The attacks, amid broader strikes on Ukrainian energy hubs, heightened tensions and underscored the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Ukraine said it had carried out precision strikes on two Russian oil refineries deep within Russian territory, targeting the Bashneft‑Novoil facility in Bashkortostan and the Slavneft‑Yanos plant in Yaroslavl region. The attacks aimed to curtail oil revenues that Moscow uses to finance its war, the president said.
The shelling came amid a broader conflict in the Black Sea zone, where Ukrainian patrol boats and shadow fleet vessels reportedly struck several tankers that had been illegally exporting sanctioned Russian oil. The assault occurred roughly 1,300 km from the Ukrainian‑Russian border, and the Bashneft site was almost 700 km away.
Yaroslavl governor Mikhail Evraev reported that a fire broke out at Slavneft‑Yanos, injuring four people, while Ukrainian officials confirmed 93 drones were shot down over the region overnight.
In the same week, Russian forces reported striking Ukrainian fuel, energy and transport infrastructure across several regions. Ukraine said at least 11 people had been killed in Russian air assaults and that Kherson was plunged into a complete blackout.
The latest attacks demonstrate the escalating use of precision strikes against critical energy assets, heightening the risk to local populations and exacerbating supply chain vulnerabilities in the broader European region.
By Jaroslav Lukiv
Published 6 August 2026
