Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refinery

Ukraine Struck a Russian Oil Refinery Overnight, Kyiv’s Military said Sunday, just ahead of a Planned Meeting between President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. Trump (R) in Florida Sunday. Kyiv has frequently Homed in on Infrastructure Connected to Russian Oil and Energy Exports, to Cut Kremlin off from Funds used to Support its War Effort. Ukraine has Upped its Strikes in recent Months. Kyiv carried out a Record Number of Attacks on Oil Facilities in November, striking 14 times, as Moscow Doubled down on its own Assaults on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure.

Ukraine struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara Region, Southeast of Moscow, with Long-Range Drones, the Ukrainian Mmilitary said in a Statement. The Attack caused a Fire at the Site, but Ukrainian Authorities said the Extent of the Damage was still being Assessed. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Early on Sunday, its Air Defenses had Detected and taken out 25 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, nearly Half of which were Intercepted over Samara. Moscow did Not Reference an Attack on Oil Facilities in the Region.

Ukraine said the Site is capable of Processing almost 9 million Tons of Oil each year, and was Supporting Russia’s Military. Kyiv also Attacked Syzran in Early December. Reuters Reported that the Strikes earlier this month, had Forced the Refinery to Temporarily Stop Processing. Kyiv said on Sunday, it had Hit “a number of other facilities,” including a Site for Strike Drones in the Russian Controlled City of Makiivka, in Ukraine’s Eastern Donetsk Region, and Storage for Uncrewed Boats in Western Crimea.

Ukraine had said on Thursday, its Forces had Attacked the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Russia’s Rostov Region, bordering Eastern Ukraine, using British Air-Launched Storm Shadow Missiles. Hours later, Russian Telegram Channels separately Reported Explosions in the Russian City of Volgograd Late on Thursday, in an area Hosting a Major Oil Refinery Operated by the Country’s Energy Giant, Lukoil. Ukraine said on Sunday, the Strike had Damaged a Pipeline and part of the Processing Plant at the Site.

Russia launched 48 Drones at Ukraine Overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force said in a separate Statement on Sunday. The Ukrainian Military Intercepted 30 Drones, but 18 Struck Nine Unspecified Locations across the Country. Ukrainian Officials said One Person had been Injured in “Massive Shelling” in the Southern Kherson Region Overnight and a Residential Building had caught Fire after a Drone Attack in the Southern Odesa area. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said Russia had Attacked the Country’s Infrastructure into Sunday, and Tens-of-Thousands of People had No Access to Power.

Large-Scale Drone and Missile Strikes the Previous Night Largely Ttargeted Ukraine’s Capital, Killing at least One Person and Injuring 32 others, according to Officials. Zelensky said these Attacks were Evidence Russia does “not want to end the war”.

Russia’s Response to the Current Proposal isn’t Clear. The Country’s Long-Time Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, told State Media in an Interview Published on Sunday, the Kremlin did Not Feel Ukraine and its European Supporters were “ready to engage in constructive talks.”

Zelensky told Reporters via Messages on Friday the 20-point Plan was “90% Ready,” according to Domestic Media. Days earlier, He told the Media that under the Revised Peace Proposal, Kyiv could be Willing to Pull Back its Troops from Part of Eastern Ukraine it still Controls and Institute a Demilitarized Zone, if Russia also Withdraws from Parts of the East. Moscow has Not Indicated it is Willing to meet this Demand.

Also on the table as an Option is having International Forces Monitor what would Effectively be a Frozen Conflict along the Front Lines as they Stand. Territorial Claims have been One of the most Difficult Sticking Points in Protracted Nnegotiations. Russia has Claimed to have Annexed the Two Eastern Ukrainian Regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as the Donbas, as well as the Southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Regions of Ikraine.

Moscow Seized the Crimean Peninsula to the South of the Mainland in 2014. Russia has been Unwilling to give up its Claims to these Five Regions, whereas Kyiv has Consistently Vowed to Reclaim the Territories, and says Giving-Up Land would be Against its Constitution.

Ukraine would receive “Article 5-like” Security Guarantees from the U.S., NATO, and European Signatories, under the Amended Proposal. Under the Article, an Attack on One Member State and Ukraine is deemed an Assault on All.

Ukraine had Argued that its Admission to NATO would be the Only way to Effectively Ensure Russia did Not Restart its Invasion Effort. Moscow deems Kyiv’s Membership of the Alliance as Off-the-Table.










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