KYIV, Ukraine — In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian military forces launched a substantial missile barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy and gas supply infrastructure during the night. This attack prompted Ukrainian authorities to announce emergency blackouts across the nation, reflecting ongoing assaults on Ukraine’s power grid that have been a consistent aspect of the conflict for nearly three years.
In a counter-operation, Ukrainian drones successfully struck an oil refinery located in Russia’s Saratov region, approximately 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) from the Ukrainian border. This refinery is crucial in supplying gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel for the Russian military, according to statements from Ukraine’s Army General Staff.
Amidst the violence, diplomatic conversations are intensifying in efforts to bring about a resolution. Senior advisors from President Donald Trump’s administration are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later this week during the Munich Security Conference, where discussions will revolve around potential strategies to conclude the ongoing conflict.
The delegation includes key figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, who are all heading to Germany for the event. Zelenskyy revealed that Trump’s representatives are expected to visit Ukraine in advance of the Munich meetings; however, specific details remain undisclosed. Trump also mentioned he would be sending Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to Ukraine for talks with Zelenskyy.
On his platform, Trump remarked on the urgency of ending the war, citing the extensive death and destruction it has caused. He emphasized the need for America to play a strong role in fostering peace globally, criticizing the billions spent without significant outcomes.
Furthermore, Ukraine’s government expressed intentions to navigate new U.S. tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports. According to Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development Minister, metallurgical goods constitute nearly 58% of Ukraine’s exports to the U.S., generating over $500 million in revenue last year.
Ukraine is also reportedly negotiating with Trump for continued military aid in exchange for facilitating the growth of its mineral sector, which includes the extraction of rare earth elements essential for contemporary technologies.
In the overnight operations, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia deployed 124 Shahed and decoy drones across Ukraine, coupled with at least 19 missiles hitting various gas production sites in the nation. Details from Russian reports regarding the Ukrainian drone strikes were minimal and often lack reliable verification.
Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, confirmed a drone strike that caused a minor fire and damage to an unidentified industrial facility. While Russian media have not conclusively identified the target, some sources speculated about the Saratov oil refinery operated by the state-controlled Rosneft being affected.
Additional unconfirmed reports indicate that the strikes might have also aimed at Engels, a city within the Saratov region known for housing multiple industrial facilities, including a primary base for Russia’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers. This base has been under near-constant threat from Ukrainian drones since the early conflict stages, prompting the Russian military to relocate several bombers to alternative locations in response to the persistent attacks.
