Ukrainian forces set fire to large Russian oil refinery in drone assault

A significant Ukrainian drone strike has ignited a major oil refinery in Russia's Tambov region, marking a strategic escalation in the conflict. The attack on the Novatek facility, one of Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producers, occurred deep within Russian territory, far from the active combat zones.

Video footage circulating online appears to show the refinery engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing into the sky. The precise impact on Russia's energy production capabilities remains unclear, but the targeting of such a critical infrastructure asset signals a determined effort by Ukraine to disrupt Moscow's economic and military resources.

Meanwhile, the conflict continued to exact a heavy toll on civilians in other parts of Ukraine. Russian shelling and missile strikes claimed the lives of four people in the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. These attacks highlight the ongoing brutality of the war and the persistent danger faced by Ukrainian communities.