Kyiv Intensifies Strikes on Russian Energy Sites Amid Conflict

Kyiv launched new strikes on Russian energy sites overnight. It also denied Moscow’s claims about a Ukrainian drone hitting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Attacks on Energy Infrastructure

Ukraine’s General Staff reported successful drone strikes on the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia. The attack caused a large-scale fire at the facility owned by Rosneft, Russia’s state oil enterprise. The refinery had been supplying resources to Moscow’s war efforts. Local Russian Governor Roman Busargin mentioned damage to civilian infrastructure but did not provide details. An independent Russian news channel, Astra, confirmed the fire in Saratov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on social media that the strike targeted the Saratov refinery, located 700 kilometers from the frontline. He described it as a significant achievement.

Another drone strike by Ukraine set fire to a fuel depot in the Rostov region of Russia, which borders eastern Ukraine. The Rostov region governor, Yuriy Slyusar, reported the incident and said residents near the depot were evacuated. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the attack in Matveev Kurgan, the town where the depot is located. Authorities described extensive fire damage across a wide area.

Ukraine targeted the Lazarevo pumping station in Russia’s Kirov region. This station, over 1,200 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled land, transports Russian oil from Siberia to Belarus. Kirov Regional Governor Alexander Sokolov acknowledged drone hits at the station without further details.

Nuclear Plant Drone Strike Denied

Kyiv denied claims that a Ukrainian drone struck Europe’s largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia. Russia’s state nuclear company, Rosatom, reported the explosion of a drone at the plant, causing a hole in the turbine hall wall. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev accused Ukraine of deliberate attack plans. He noted no main equipment damage.

Ukraine’s military classified this report as propaganda, affirming commitment to international humanitarian law. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed serious concern about the situation. Inspectors observed damage at the turbine building but reported normal radiation levels. They requested access for further examination of the turbine hall’s interior.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, near the southern front lines, remains under Russian control since its capture early in the war. Both sides have traded accusations over targeting the plant since the conflict began in February 2022.

Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Child Abductions

In a recent interview, President Zelenskyy accused Russia of treating abducted Ukrainian children as combatants. He claimed evidence showed these children were trained to fight against fellow Ukrainians. He also alleged separations of Ukrainian siblings, their adoptions into different families, and offers to trade some children for captured soldiers. He stated his government had evidence of Russian steps, though specifics were not given.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have reportedly been unlawfully deported to Russia or Russian-held areas. The European Union sanctioned officials involved in the abductions. Some children had identities changed or were put up for adoption. Certain centers, suspected of indoctrination or military training, were also sanctioned.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes for the abductions.

Drone Attacks Persist

Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 212 of the 299 drones Russia launched overnight. Fourteen reached their targets, and debris fell in several places. In the Chernihiv region, a truck driver died after drones struck a parking lot. Russian drones also hit Dnipro city and an oil refinery in the Rivne region, sparking fires. The head of Dnipropetrovsk region reported one fatality and nine injuries from attacks in the province.