Ukraine says it struck a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow, a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv that left several dead. The moves come amid an unfolding corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector and continued frontline incidents with power infrastructure at risk.
Attack near Moscow
- Advertisement -
Ukrainian forces reported hitting a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, saying the strike aimed to reduce Moscow’s ability to launch missile and bomb strikes. Russian officials said air defences intercepted a large number of incoming drones over the region.
- The Ukrainian army posted on social media that the refinery was targeted as part of efforts to blunt Russia’s strike capacity.
- Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said Russian air defences shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over the region during the night.
- Ukraine has periodically carried out missile and drone strikes inside Russia since the 2022 invasion.
Russian strikes on Kyiv and casualties
Russian forces struck apartment blocks across Kyiv a day earlier, leaving at least seven people dead, officials said. Authorities reported additional injuries and at least one more death after initial reports.
- Tymur Tkachenko of Kyiv’s city administration said an elderly woman wounded in shelling on 14 November died in hospital the following morning.
- Other victims named by officials included a couple in their 70s and a 62-year-old.
- The strikes add to sustained Russian targeting of population centres and critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital.
Energy sector scandal and government overhaul
Ukraine’s president has ordered a sweeping overhaul of state-owned energy companies after anti-corruption investigators said about $100 million was embezzled from the sector. The scandal has prompted resignations and demands from allies for stronger anti-graft measures.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered two ministers to resign and sanctioned a former business partner investigators named as the scheme’s mastermind.
- Zelensky called for a full audit, renewal of company management and formation of a new supervisory board at state nuclear operator Energoatom within a week.
- He also demanded swift appointments and reforms at Ukrhydroenergo, Naftogaz and the main gas operator, and pledged continued cooperation with investigators.
Frontline incidents and power-plant status
Fighting along the Dnipro River and contested regions continued to affect civilians and power supplies, while reports from both sides described shifting control on some frontlines. Officials said a nuclear plant’s operations remain stable despite an external power line cut by automatic protection.
- Regional officials said a Russian drone wounded five people, one seriously, in Nikopol on the Dnipro’s frontline bank; Moscow-installed authorities reported Ukrainian strikes on power lines across the river.
- Russian defence agencies reported capturing the village of Yablukove in Zaporizhzhia region; Reuters said it could not verify battlefield claims.
- The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s representative told RIA the situation is stable after the Dneprovskaya line was switched off when automatic protections were triggered.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
