Ukraine managed to hit Russia's largest oil refinery, which also appears to be one of the country's deepest strikes inside the country, Kyiv said.
Ukraine's military general staff said the strike caused a fire in the facility, located in the cityof Omsk, which is more than 1,500 miles from its territory and near the border with Kazakhstan. It is estimated to have the capability to refine more than 21 million metric tons of crude oil per year, according to CNBC.
"Upgraded Fire Point drones have put Siberia within reach of Ukrainian precision. This is a significant blow to Russia's oil economy and an important achievement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily nighttime address.
Zelensky also issued warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the Financial Times, he said that scores of drones will soon reach Moscow and will make him "begin to understand what is happening in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions."
"He will be advised to move somewhere beyond the Urals. That will be a moment that opens a new chapter on the path toward ending the war. The farther Putin is from Moscow, the closer the end of the war and peace will be," Zelensky added.
He went on to say that the country's elites in Moscow and St. Petersburg will be reached as well, and the country "must keep working on this."
"It is constant, difficult, and daily work. We must all stay focused and energized. The heroes are those on the front line. And all of us, the entire state, must keep carrying shells to them. If we do, we will bring a just and strong peace for Ukraine. That is what victory means for us," Zelensky said.
Kyiv also hit the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and facilities in Russia's Leningrad region last weekend. Previous operations have targeted key energy sites in Yaroslavl, Tuapse, and Krasnodar Krai. The campaign is disrupting fuel production and distribution, creating new challenges for Moscow as it continues its war.
Putin acknowledged on 28 June that fuel shortages had become a concern in some regions, underscoring the impact that repeated attacks are having on one of Russia's most important economic sectors.
Ukrainian officials have argued that energy infrastructure is a legitimate target because oil revenues help fund Russia's military operations. By striking refineries, storage facilities and export terminals, Kyiv hopes to raise the economic cost of the war while demonstrating that critical infrastructure remains vulnerable.
