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Ukraine has said it struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Moscow region, marking one of the deepest reported attacks into Russian territory in recent months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the target was hit at a distance of around 500 kilometres, highlighting what he described as the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.
“This time, the Moscow region felt the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities. An oil refinery was hit at a distance of 500 kilometres,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
He added that the strike was carried out by multiple branches of Ukraine’s security and defence forces, including the Security Service of Ukraine, special operations units and missile forces.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was intended as retaliation for Russian military actions and part of a wider effort to increase pressure on Moscow.
“This is a just response to Russian strikes and to the dragging out of a war that must be ended,” he said.
He also argued that such operations form part of a broader strategy to force Russia towards ending the conflict.
“Russia must be forced to end its war against our people. And Ukraine’s long-range weapons are one of the important components of such pressure,” he added.
Separately, Russian authorities reported a fire at an oil storage facility in the village of Poltavskaya in the Krasnodar region, which they said was caused by falling drone debris.
Local officials said the fire has since been extinguished. No further details were immediately provided about the extent of the damage or any casualties.
The incidents come amid an intensifying pattern of cross-border strikes, with both sides increasingly relying on drones and long-range weapons to target energy and military infrastructure. G7 leaders, meeting in France, are discussing how to end the war between the two.
Ukraine has repeatedly focused on oil and energy facilities inside Russia, aiming to disrupt supply chains and apply economic pressure, while Moscow continues large-scale strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The reported strike near Moscow underscores how the conflict has expanded beyond front-line regions, bringing the effects of the war closer to Russia’s political and economic centres.
While Ukraine frames such operations as necessary responses, they also reflect a broader escalation in tactics, raising questions about how the conflict may evolve in the coming months.
Independent verification of strikes inside Russia remains limited, with both sides often releasing partial information about the scale and impact of attacks, making it difficult to assess the full extent of damage.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, as Iran reiterated that it will neither enter into new negotiations with the United States nor re-open the Strait as long as its conditions are not met, despite recent indirect talks in New York mediated by Qatar.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will hold an urgent high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The meeting comes as Tehran seeks to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
The 81st UN General Assembly has wrapped up its third day in New York on Thursday, with world leaders delivering high-level speeches and holding diplomatic meetings.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is comfortable maintaining its trade standoff with Canada despite new import bans taking effect next week U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday.
The military chiefs of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met in Riyadh to discuss closer defence cooperation under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron has left open the possibility of seeking the presidency again after he leaves office next year, saying he “doesn’t exclude anything” when asked about a possible third mandate.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for a four-day visit focused on artificial intelligence, the future of Europe, peace and the Catholic Church's response to its abuse crisis.
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