Ukraine hits two oil refineries deep in Russian territory

Ukraine reported hitting two oil refineries in Russia with patrol boats and vessels in the Black Sea also targeted. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Bashneft-Novoil and Slavneft-Yanos refineries were attacked to curb oil revenue funding Russia's war efforts. Yaroslavl governor Mikhail Evraev confirmed the Slavneft-Yanos refinery was ablaze after a significant drone assault, resulting in four injuries.

Eleven people were killed in Russian attacks, with the southern city of Kherson experiencing a total power outage. Russia claimed targeting fuel, energy, and transport facilities, mirroring Ukraine's intensified strikes on major cities, energy sites, and warehouses. Russia's Vladimir Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky emphasized the refineries' distance from Ukraine's border and called for Russia to opt for peace, asserting Ukrainian strikes bolster diplomatic prospects. Evraev reported 93 drones shot down in Yaroslavl overnight, with debris hitting storage tanks and emergency crews battling the blaze. Media confirmed smoke plumes rising from the refinery, with at least four fires visible.

Energy infrastructure in Yaroslavl has faced multiple Ukrainian attacks, while Bashkortostan authorities have not commented on the reported attack on Bashneft-Novoil on August 5. In Ukraine, three fatalities occurred in Kharkiv region from a Russian drone strike on Balakliya, with two houses burning. Additional two deaths resulted from drones targeting a train station in Lozova, and eight injuries sustained.

On Thursday, five more people perished in Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk region, while Kherson city faced complete power loss post a critical infrastructure hit. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks observed significant connectivity disruption in Kherson, which dropped to 69% as of 12:00 GMT. Approximately 66,000 residents inhabit Kherson now, representing 25% of its pre-war population.

Odesa, Ukraine's Black Sea port, saw one fatality after Russia hit two dry cargo ships. Russia reported intercepting or downing 605 Ukrainian drones overnight across various regions, targeting fuel, energy, transport facilities, and drone storage sites.