Ukraine Drones Strike Russian Oil Refineries

Ukrainian forces attacked two oil refineries deep inside Russia, hitting the Slavyansk-na-Kubani facility in Krasnodar and another in Yaroslavl, as Kyiv stepped up its long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

At least two people were killed in the drone attacks, according to Russian authorities, while fuel shortages were reported in Siberia thousands of miles from the war zone.

President Zelenskyy framed the strikes as part of Kyiv's long-range sanctions campaign against Moscow.

President Putin admitted Russia is in a difficult period and vowed to overcome the challenges, as the ruling United Russia party prepared to run a Ukraine war veteran among its lead candidates for September's parliamentary elections.