Ukrainian drone attacks hit Russian refineries in the Urals and near Krasnodar

Other parts of the country were also hit. In Zaporizhzhia, eleven people were injured in a drone attack according to the rescue services, and in the Kharkiv region the governor reported six injured.

Russian counterattacks on Kyiv

Russian oil processing has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years, according to consistent reports. Not far from the Black Sea coast, the refinery near the settlement of Afipsky also caught fire, according to the crisis center of the Krasnodar region. The crisis center announced on Telegram that the facility had caught fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia's use of ballistic missiles as a last resort to continue the war. He said in Paris: "Es ist real das letzte Mittel, diesen blutigen Krieg in die Länge zu ziehen". According to him, Russia is increasingly resorting to long-range weapons systems because other means are no longer sufficient.

Zelensky's demand for air defense

At the same time, Zelensky advocated for the establishment of a new European air defense system. Within a year, it should be able to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. To this end, he also asked the West to supply Patriot air defense missiles. The ammunition is "qualitativ hochwertig, aber knapp". He demanded: "Wir haben berechnet, dass in diesem Paket 100 Patriot-Raketen pro Monat sein sollten – 300 Raketen für den Winter".

Members of the so-called Coalition of the Willing had previously launched an initiative in Paris to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. Germany is one of the most important Western supporters backing the expansion of Ukrainian air defense systems in recent years. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion since February 2022 with Western aid.

Impact on energy infrastructure

Zelensky emphasized that his country needs daily resources to be able to intercept ballistic missiles. He stated: "Wir haben in der Ukraine eine (Flugabwehr-)Rakete, doch das ist nur Teil eines Systems". According to his words, mass production of this missile could be done inexpensively, but first the USA would have to refill its own arsenals and supply allies in the Persian Gulf after Iranian attacks.

The escalation on both sides illustrates the growing reach of the conflict. While Ukrainian drones reach targets deep in the Russian hinterland, Russia relies on ballistic missiles for its attacks on the Ukrainian capital, which are difficult to intercept. Both sides are trying to put pressure on the other by attacking energy infrastructure.

International observers see the mutual strikes against energy facilities as a continuation of the strategy of weakening the opposing war effort through long-term damage. The impact on global energy markets is still being examined, but Russian oil processing threatens to come under further pressure in the face of repeated attacks.