Kyiv launched new drone strikes overnight targeting Russian energy infrastructure, continuing its recent campaign against facilities it says support Moscow’s war effort. On Sunday, Ukraine’s General Staff reported an attack on the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia, which resulted in a large fire. The refinery, operated by Russia’s state oil company Rosneft, is located about 700 kilometers from the front line.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strike on social media, describing it as a significant achievement in Ukraine’s long-range sanctions against Russian energy assets. In addition to Saratov, Ukrainian forces targeted a fuel depot in the Rostov region near Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine, which also caught fire after debris from a drone strike landed there, according to Governor Yuri Slyusar. The General Staff confirmed responsibility for the incident in the town of Matveev Kurgan.

Ukraine further reported a strike on the Lazarevo pumping station northeast of Moscow, underscoring its intensified focus on disrupting energy supplies linked to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, now stretching into their fifth year.

Meanwhile, Kyiv denied Moscow’s claims that a Ukrainian drone had hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe. Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom stated that a drone struck the plant on Saturday, causing an explosion that damaged the wall of a turbine hall. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledged “damage to the exterior of a turbine building” but noted that radiation levels at the plant remained normal, with inspectors present on site monitoring the situation.

The conflicting accounts reflect ongoing tensions surrounding the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia facility amid the conflict. Kyiv rejected responsibility for the drone attack, while Moscow has emphasized the potential hazards posed by Ukrainian operations near the plant.

The recent strikes illustrate Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russia’s logistical and energy capabilities, targeting critical infrastructure far behind the front lines. At the same time, the Zaporizhzhia incident highlights persistent concerns about the risks to nuclear facilities in a conflict zone.