Ukraine has claimed responsibility for another major drone strike deep inside Russian territory, with officials saying a refinery hundreds of kilometers from the border was hit overnight as Kyiv ramps up its long-range attack campaign against Moscow’s energy sector.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said drones struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, more than 800 kilometers from Ukraine. A large fire reportedly broke out at the facility, sending thick black smoke into the sky.
Zelenskyy shared footage on social media that appeared to show the aftermath of the attack, though independent verification was not immediately possible. Russian regional officials confirmed drone activity in the area, with Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev saying two people were killed in the strikes, but he did not directly mention damage to the refinery.
Russian outlet Astra reported that the targeted refinery belongs to energy giant Rosneft.
The latest strike is part of Ukraine’s expanding campaign against Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv views as a key source of funding for Moscow’s military operations. Ukrainian-made drones and missiles are now capable of hitting targets far inside Russia, reflecting a major shift from the early stages of the war when Ukraine relied heavily on Western military aid.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian forces also hit another refinery a day earlier as part of a broader strategy focused on weakening Russia’s oil revenues.
“Our long-range operations for May are largely being carried out as planned,” Zelenskyy said, adding that oil refineries, fuel storage sites and energy-related infrastructure remain priority targets.
The repeated attacks are increasing economic pressure on Russia as international sanctions continue to affect the country’s finances. Some recent Ukrainian strikes have reportedly reached targets more than 1,500 kilometers inside Russian territory, raising security concerns within Russia and adding pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defense systems intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones overnight. In the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, local officials said eight people were injured in separate drone attacks.
Russia has also continued its own large-scale drone assaults on Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched 116 drones overnight, with Ukraine’s air force saying 109 were intercepted.
Emergency services in Ukraine reported that at least one civilian was killed and several others wounded in attacks across northern, southern and eastern regions of the country.
