ISTANBUL

Russia claimed on Sunday that it struck an oil refinery in Ukraine’s central Poltava region in an overnight group strike.

A statement by the Defense Ministry said high-precision air and sea-based weapons were used in targeting the refinery in the industrial city of Kremenchuk.

According to the ministry, the facility supplied fuel to Kyiv's forces in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where intense clashes continue.

Acting Poltava Governor Volodymyr Kohut confirmed the combined strike in his region overnight, saying energy and agricultural infrastructure facilities were hit in Kremenchuk and nearby rural and urban areas.

“A private residential building, a car, and a power line were also damaged. As a result of direct hits and falling debris, fires broke out, which were localized by State Emergency Service units,” Kohut wrote on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties.

“Russia cannot be stopped with words alone. It only understands the language of force. Today, the world must impose the strongest possible sanctions to force Russia into peace, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities to protect our people,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Air Force claimed downing 111 out of 183 drones launched by Russia during an overnight attack, the “main direction” of which it said was Kremenchuk.

It said air defenses shot down eight missiles of various types launched, including two Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles, as of 9 am local time (0600GMT). Russian authorities did not immediately comment on the claims.