Tension in Europe mounts as Ukraine and Russia trade heavy fire

Ukraine's incessant drone campaign has struck another oil refinery in Moscow, targeting more Russian energy infrastructure, as the war in Europe rages on.

IMAGE: Getty Images

The latest round of Ukrainian drone strikes is reportedly one of the largest campaigns against Moscow.

​Russia has downed more than 1,600 drones since Saturday, including 450 headed for ⁠Moscow, the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on social media platform Telegram.

“A facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery was damaged,” Sobyanin said.

The Moscow Oil Refinery processed about 11.6 million ​mt of oil in 2024, according to Reuters. It has been targeted multiple times since early-2022, when Russia launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine.  

The attacks come as Russia prepares to extend its ban on diesel exports through the end of October, according to local media.

Despite US President Donald Trump announcing a mutual accord earlier this week to halt hostilities, Kyiv and Moscow have pressed ahead with cross-border strikes targeting vital energy installations.

Over the course of the war, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted key export hubs like Novorossiysk and Tuapse, as well as Ust-Luga and Primorsk on the Baltic Sea.

The latest drone strike adds to the list of several attacks launched by Ukraine in recent weeks, as Kyiv presses its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

Russia hits back harder

Moscow bombed Kyiv with incessant strikes yesterday, targeting railway infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations, Reuters reported.

The attacks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss peace efforts.

“We are ready for an energy truce if they do not attack our energy, our power grids, our heating and water supply systems,” Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel.

The Ukrainian President also claimed that Russia was planning a new attack on Ukraine. “There is information from intelligence that Russia is preparing a new massive attack against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy added.

“Efforts by the US and EU to discourage attacks on energy infrastructure have yet to yield a breakthrough,” two analysts from ING Bank noted.

By Aparupa Mazumder

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online