Key facts
- Ukraine anticipates technical talks on the Russia war soon, but no immediate agreement.
- Kyrylo Budanov stated Ukraine must mobilize at least 30,000 people monthly.
- Ukrainian drones targeted Russia's Yaroslavl oil refinery and a Tu-95 bomber at Engels air base.
- A Russian minister reported that 90% of Ukraine's modern storage facilities have been destroyed.
- Russia is reportedly considering arming civilian ships to protect its shadow fleet.
- One of Ukraine's largest vodka plants was destroyed in a Russian attack.
Ukraine's Presidential Office head, Kyrylo Budanov, expects "technical talks" on the Russia-Ukraine war to occur soon, though he cautioned that a swift resolution is unrealistic. Budanov stated on Ukrainian television that Ukraine must mobilize at least 30,000 people per month to sustain its efforts, warning that the war will not end quickly. These comments come amid pressure to address flaws in Ukraine's mobilization process, which has been in place since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In separate incidents, Ukrainian drones targeted Russia's Yaroslavl oil refinery, one of the country's largest, and a Tu-95 strategic bomber at the Engels air base. The General Staff confirmed the strike on the Slavneft-YANOS refinery, which processes approximately 15 million tons of oil annually. The damaged Tu-95 is a key platform for Russian cruise missile attacks.
Agricultural Minister Taras Vysotskyi reported that Russian strikes have destroyed 90% of Ukraine's modern storage facilities for various goods, impacting logistics but assuring no risk of food shortages. Businesses are adapting by seeking alternative storage and delivery methods.
President Volodymyr Zelensky cited military intelligence indicating Russia is considering arming civilian vessels with weapons and electronic warfare equipment to protect its shadow fleet of oil tankers, due to difficulties in escorting them. Zelensky also noted successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian industrial facilities, including a plant limiting rocket motor production and an oil refinery.
Additionally, one of Ukraine's largest vodka plants, the Khortytsia Distillery, was destroyed beyond repair following a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast, resulting in the loss of millions of bottles of spirits.