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France 24
France 24
Politics
FRANCE 24

Ukrainian strike ignites Russian oil refinery as Putin acknowledges 'difficult period'

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Russia party congress in Moscow, on June 28, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Russia party congress in Moscow, on June 28, 2026. © Ekaterina Shtukina, AP

Debris from downed Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze at a major oil refinery in Russia on Sunday, according to local authorities. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country was “going through a difficult period”. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military facilities, choking Moscow's fuel supplies and military deliveries.

Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south and killing at least two people, Russian authorities said Sunday, as President Vladimir Putin acknowledged his country is going through a “difficult period”.

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