Ukrainian drones strike Russian oil refinery and logistics hub

Ukrainian forces conducted a strike against the Saratov oil refinery in Russia, a facility capable of processing approximately 7 million tons of crude oil annually. The refinery provides fuel and lubricants for Russian military forces. Additionally, drones targeted a logistics center for the Russian e-commerce company Ozon in the Saratov region, leading to a suspension of customer orders and goods acceptance in the area.

In Russia, fuel shortages have been reported, with long lines appearing at gas stations in Saint Petersburg. This follows ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and fuel storage sites.

On the diplomatic front, the Kremlin stated that Moscow remains open to potential trilateral negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine to resolve the conflict, noting that there are currently no preconditions for such talks. This follows recent visits to Moscow and Kyiv by American special envoys.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has approved an additional 6.1 billion euros in aid for Ukraine. These funds are designated for air and missile defense, ammunition, drones, and electronic warfare equipment, including PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems.