Key facts
- Ukrainian drones struck oil refineries and the port of Taganrog in southern Russia.
- Fires were reported at oil storage facilities in Azov and the Ilsky oil refinery.
- Authorities in Taganrog declared an emergency and evacuated some residents.
- Kyiv stated the strikes are retribution for Russian attacks and aim to push Russia toward negotiations.
- President Trump suggested the strikes could help end the conflict.
- The Kremlin dismissed the idea that military pressure would lead to concessions.
Ukrainian drone strikes targeted southern Russian oil refineries and the port of Taganrog on Friday, prompting local authorities to declare an emergency and evacuate some residents. Kyiv stated these actions are a fair response to Russia's prolonged barrages and an effort to compel Moscow to negotiate.
Local governor Yuri Slyusar reported that "massive" night-time strikes led to fires at oil storage facilities in Azov and the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region. He noted that efforts to extinguish the fires were ongoing and that dozens of residents were moved to temporary accommodation.
Russia's defense ministry claimed its forces downed over 370 Ukrainian drones, including some over the Moscow region. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has previously acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes are impacting fuel supplies and are intended to create divisions within Russia.
US President Donald Trump, when asked about the strikes, suggested they represented an escalation that could potentially lead to an end of the conflict. However, the Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, dismissed the notion that increased military pressure would force Russia into concessions, calling such a view mistaken.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, stated that a turning point in the war with Russia is "still a long way off," despite recent successes. He noted that while Russian assaults have decreased and offensive fronts have reduced, the enemy should not be underestimated, with both sides effectively reaching parity in terms of advance rate.