Ukraine drone hits one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries

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Ukraine has mounted one of the most wide-ranging attacks inside Russia in months, hitting energy sites and a major oil refinery in drone strikes on at least seven regions.

More than two dozen drones were reported over central Russia, with the defence ministry on Tuesday claiming to have intercepted most over regions bordering Ukraine.

But the strikes also caused big fires at two major energy infrastructure sites inside Russia, significantly damaging one of the country’s biggest oil refineries.

Ukraine regularly sends waves of drones deep into Russia, primarily targeting industrial sites, defence production facilities and energy plants. But it has also occasionally targeted symbolic sites such as the Kremlin roof, which was damaged in a drone strike in May 2023.

No casualties were reported on Tuesday from the overnight attack. Although Ukraine was blamed for the strikes by Russian officials, Kyiv has not made any reference to the incidents. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force declined to comment.

In addition to the drone strikes overnight, two armed militia units based in Ukraine and backed by Kyiv — the Russian Volunteer Corps and Free Russia Legion — made incursions from Ukraine into the Belgorod and Kursk regions of Russia.

The group of anti-Kremlin fighters has previously broken across the border into Russia leading to skirmishes with the Russian army. Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers on Tuesday said several groups of armed men on pick-up trucks stormed the border, with some reporting gun battles.

The Free Russia Legion posted a video claiming to show its tanks crossing the border at night.

“We are coming to rescue you . . . from dictatorship,” a group leader said in a video. In another video, the group showed what it said was a Russian armoured personnel carrier being destroyed by its fighters.

Russia’s defence ministry…