Ukraine hit a Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week, Zelenskyy says

By — Samya Kullab, Associated Press Samya Kullab, Associated Press By — Illia Novikov, Associated Press Illia Novikov, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ukraine-hit-a-russian-oil-refinery-for-the-second-time-in-a-week-zelenskyy-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ukraine hit a Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week, Zelenskyy says World Jul 1, 2026 2:27 PM EDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces struck Russia's major Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year. The Ufa refinery is one of Russia's largest producers of lubricants and is located more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Ukraine, Zelenskyy said on social media. Ukraine also struck a plant producing missile components in Russia's Penza region southeast of Moscow, some 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. Russian officials did not confirm the strikes, which could not be independently verified. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 179 Ukrainian drones over 16 Russian regions, the annexed Crimea and waters of the Azov and the Black Sea. Penza regional Gov. Oleg Melnichenko said that Ukrainian drones struck two industrial plants in the city of Penza, injuring two people at one of them. He didn't name the plants or describe the damage. The explosions shattered windows in two apartment buildings in Penza, Melnichenko said, while downed drone debris damaged a power line and fell on a building under construction. Ukraine says drone strikes slow Russian advance Ukraine's domestically developed and manufactured drones and missiles have been hammering Russian oil facilities, including refineries, terminals, storage depots and pipeline pumping stations, for months. Many regions of Russia, one of the world's biggest energy producers, have introduced fuel rationing. READ MORE: Ukraine's drone set another Russian oil refinery ablaze, as Putin admits fuel shortages Ukraine has developed new weaponry and in recent months has gained an edge, according to Western officials. Its strikes on supply routes behind the front line have robbed the Russian army of momentum on the battlefield, officials and analysts say. "Russians now have great problems with delivering infantry to the front line and supplying it," Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov said Wednesday. Ukraine sees growing interest in its military technology Ukraine has become a provider of military technology sought by countries around the world, especially drones. With European countries fearing what Moscow's territorial ambitions might lie beyond Ukraine, leaders have described Kyiv as a bulwark against Russian advances. Ukraine is