Ukraine strikes Russian energy infrastructure amid requests for German air defence aid

Ukrainian drones have struck energy and industrial targets across multiple Russian regions, intensifying a campaign against infrastructure that has seen regular attacks on the Volga River basin in recent years. The Ukrainian military confirmed overnight strikes on an oil refinery in Saratov and the Lazarevo oil-pumping station in the Kirov region, approximately 1,300 kilometres northeast of Moscow.

Saratov Governor Roman Busargin reported on Telegram that civil infrastructure had been damaged in the overnight strikes. In the Kirov region, Governor Alexander Sokolov confirmed that drones had hit a facility in the Urzhumsky district. Ukrainian forces also targeted areas in the Rostov, Voronezh, and Belgorod regions, which share a border with Ukraine. In Belgorod, Russian authorities confirmed that three civilians were injured.

Amid the strikes, Ukraine explicitly denied Russian accusations that it had targeted the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is located in Russian-occupied territory. While the Ukrainian military confirmed the attacks on the Saratov refinery and Kirov facilities, it maintained that the nuclear site was not a target.

In the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula, Moscow-backed Governor Sergei Aksyonov announced restrictions on the sale of petrol. He did not specify the reason for the restrictions, though Ukraine has been attacking fuel infrastructure in southwestern Russia close to Crimea for several months.

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had received a new Iris-T air defence missile launcher from Germany. Speaking on Telegram, Zelenskyy requested additional air defence ammunition from Kyiv’s allies, stating that the country needs sufficient capabilities to repel Russian attacks.