The Ukrainian Defense Forces confirmed successful strikes on key sites within Russia’s oil refining and defense industries in the early hours of Saturday, August 2.
In a statement shared on Telegram, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said:
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“The Ukrainian Defense Forces have successfully struck verified Russian targets involved in supporting armed aggression against our state.”
“The attack was a response to Russia’s recent terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing and wounding civilians,” the report added.
Among the confirmed targets were two oil refineries – the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk plants – as well as the Anna Neftoprodukt fuel and lubricants base in Russia’s Voronezh region.
Ukraine also struck the Penza Production Association “Electropribor,” a defense enterprise that produces secure telecommunications equipment, cryptographic systems, and printed circuit boards for military use.
“Numerous explosions and fires were recorded at these facilities. More detailed information on the consequences of the attacks is being clarified,” the General Staff said.
The operation was carried out by units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces (SSO), the Security Service (SBU), and the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
According to the statement, Ukraine will continue systematically destroying infrastructure that supports the Russian military until Moscow ends its war.
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“The Defense Forces are taking all lawful measures to stop the genocide of our people, which is today being deliberately carried out by the Moscow regime,” the General Staff said.
As reported earlier by Kyiv Post, a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack struck multiple Russian regions and occupied Crimea early Saturday.
Explosions were reported in Lipetsk, Ryazan, Taganrog, Penza, Voronezh, Samara, and Crimea, according to Russian Telegram channels.
In Lipetsk, at least four blasts were recorded. In Ryazan, drones reportedly targeted the Diaghilev Airfield and an oil refinery, where fires broke out.
In Crimea, explosions were heard in Feodosia and the Crimean Bridge was temporarily closed. A fire was reported near a local oil depot.
In Taganrog, five blasts occurred around 00:34 Kyiv time.
Strikes were also confirmed in Penza and Samara. Fires erupted at two defense-linked sites and at a refinery in Novokuibyshevsk, Samara. Eyewitness videos showed drone hits on Penza’s Electropribor defense plant.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted or downed 112 Ukrainian drones between 20:00 on Aug. 1 and 04:40 on Aug. 2 (Moscow time).
Russia launched more drones at Ukraine in July than in any month since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022, intensifying its deadly bombardment as peace talks remain stalled, according to an AFP analysis released Friday.
The attacks occurred every day throughout the month.
Citing data from Ukraine’s Air Force, the analysis said Russia fired 6,297 long-range drones last month – a 16% increase from June and the third consecutive monthly rise.
Russia also launched 198 missiles in July, the second-highest monthly total this year after June.
Despite recent diplomatic efforts, the Kremlin has rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying in July it saw no immediate path to peace. Three rounds of direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since May have failed to produce results.
The escalating drone and missile strikes led to a three-year high in Ukrainian civilian casualties in June, the United Nations reported.
On Thursday, a combined missile and drone strike on Kyiv killed at least 31 people, including five children. Most victims died when a missile struck a nine-story apartment building, partially reducing it to rubble.
