Ukrainian strike ignites Russian oil refinery, as Putin acknowledges 'difficult period'
Key takeaways
- Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at a major oil refinery in Russia on Sunday, according to local authorities.
- By: FRANCE 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Russia party congress in Moscow, on June 28, 2026.
- The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at a major oil refinery in Russia on Sunday, according to local authorities. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country was “going through a difficult period”. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military facilities, choking Moscow's fuel supplies and military deliveries.
By: FRANCE 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Russia party congress in Moscow, on June 28, 2026. © Ekaterina Shtukina, AP Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south and killing at least two people, Russian authorities said Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin acknowledged his country is going through a “difficult period”.
Ukraine has markedly stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities in recent months, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for its invasion – now in its fifth year – and make Russians feel the consequences.