Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that the recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries have not caused significant damage and promised that Moscow will retaliate, Interfax reported.
“They hit here and there. Nothing particularly significant. However, they continue,” said Putin.
The statements of the Kremlin leader came after a major attack with Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an oil refinery in the Ryazan region of Russia, Thursday morning, according to the regional governor.
It was the first confirmed Ukrainian attack on a Russian energy facility since US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed on an energy ceasefire.
Russia, however, continued to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and the Kremlin, through Dmitri Peskov, conveyed that “nothing was specified in concrete terms”, so “activity in this area continues”.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski stated to the Financial Times, in an interview published on Thursday, that Ukraine has suspended attacks on energy infrastructure for three days to comply with the wishes of the US, but is resuming them because Russia continues to attack its energy infrastructure.
On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak claimed that Ukraine had attacked oil refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions, although Kiev denied any involvement.
The Ryazan refinery, owned by the Russian oil giant Rosneft, supplies Moscow with fuel. It has been attacked by drones several times in recent months. The refinery accounts for nearly 5% of Russia’s total oil refining capacity.
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