Ukraine strikes Russian tanker and military targets

Ukraine strikes Russian tanker and military targets
An explosion at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, 8 June 2026,
Reuters

Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine also carried out overnight strikes on multiple targets inside Russia, including a military plant in the city of Cheboksary using domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles.

He added that the Kuibyshev oil refinery in the Samara region was hit, along with two oil infrastructure facilities in the Vladimir region, highlighting a continuing campaign against Russia's energy sector.

Russia warns over EU sanctions and maritime measures

Russia sharply criticised the European Union's latest sanctions efforts, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying existing restrictions had failed to achieve their aims and instead destabilised global energy and food markets.

Russia's Navy patrol boat next to the Russian shadow fleet vessel as it waits in the unofficial anchorage area in the Gulf of Finland near Vaindloo, Estonia, 10 April 2026.
Reuters

She also warned that Moscow would respond to any new sanctions and condemned an EU decision to authorise the inspection of vessels in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet".et”.

Ukraine boosts defence spending

Separately, Ukraine's parliament approved amendments to this year's budget, paving the way for record defence and security spending.

Lawmakers backed an additional 1.56 trillion hryvnias (about $34.7 billion), reflecting the country's continued prioritisation of military funding as the conflict with Russia intensifies.

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