Local authorities reported that drone attacks on Russian soil continued on their second day. Two oil refineries were reported to have been targeted, located approximately 50 miles away from Russia’s important Black Sea oil export terminals.
Local officials reported that one of the attacks caused an fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery, which was extinguished, and the second attack did not cause any damage.
The Afipsky Refinery is located about 50 miles east from Novorossisk. This Black Sea port is home to an important Russian oil export terminal. Russia’s state media reported that the other drone attack was on the Ilsky refinery located about 40 miles east of Novorossisk.
The drone strikes came just a day following a highly unusual attack on Moscow that also used drones. It damaged some residential buildings and caused two injuries, but no deaths according to Moscow officials.
The Russian government blames Kyiv, while an advisor to the Ukrainian president denied that his government was involved but expressed delight at such a occurrence.
Local officials report that shelling has killed several people in the eastern and central Ukrainian regions of Dnipropetrovsk as well as in Russian-occupied Luhansk.
After the Moscow drone attack, Russia reserves the right to take “severe measures”.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it is entitled to take the “most severe measures” in response to the drone attack on Moscow on Tuesday, which it blames Kyiv for.
“Assurances from NATO officials that the Kyiv government will not launch deep strikes into Russian territory proves to be completely hypocritical,” said the ministry in a press release.
It added that “Russia reserves its right to take the most severe measures possible in response to terrorist attacks by the Kyiv government.”
Moscow authorities reported that the drone strikes had caused “minor damages” and two injuries, but no deaths.
Children die in new missile attack on Kyiv
BBC reported that two children and an adult were killed, and more than 12 people were injured in a new missile attack at night on Kyiv.
Russia has regularly attacked the Ukrainian capital with missiles and drones.
The latest attacks took place in eastern Desnyanskyi district and Dniprovskyi district.
Ukrainian officials stated that preliminary information was used to determine the number of dead and injured.
The Kyiv military administration posted on Telegram that one of the children who died was between the ages of 5 and 6, while the other was between 12 and 13 years old. Both were in Desnyanskyi district.
The attack is the fourth in a week and follows 17 attacks on the Ukrainian capital during the month of May. The majority of the attacks took place at night. However, at least one happened during the day.
In a series of early morning Telegram posts, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that a “series explosions” took place in the city and that rescuers were dealing with fallen debris as well as fires.
He said that 14 people were injured, nine of whom had to be taken to hospital.
In the meantime, officials backed by Russia in the occupied area of eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk Region said that five people were killed and 19 others injured on Wednesday after Ukrainian shelling hit a poultry farm.
In recent weeks, Russia has used kamikaze drones and a variety of cruise and missiles to attack Ukraine.
Analysts believe that Kyiv was heavily targeted. They also believe that Moscow is trying deplete and damage Ukraine’s air defenses in preparation for a long-anticipated counter-offensive which the Ukrainian government had been planning for several months.
White House: Putin has ‘zero interest’ in ending the war in Ukraine
The White House has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin showed “zero interest” in ending the war in Ukraine, as the conflict approaches the 500th day.
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said at a White House press briefing that “the Russians have shown no interest in a negotiated solution.”
“I think that this week, as all of you have seen, Russia continued to wage an unprovoked, brutal war against Ukraine,” Kirby said in reference to a series of Russian airstrikes across Ukraine.
He said that Russia has launched 17 air attacks on Kyiv so far in this month.
Russia announces that it will target Western weapon supply routes in Ukraine
TASS reported that Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, said that Russia would target and strike any Western weapon supply routes it detects before Ukraine’s anticipated counteroffensive.
Shoigu said that Ukraine’s Western Allies are increasing arms deliveries to Kyiv in preparation for what he called a “large-scale offensive” by Ukraine.
The defense chief said that Moscow was imposing “effective fire damage on the enemies” and that the arms supplied by the West to Ukraine would not change the outcome of his country’s “special military operations,” which is what the Kremlin calls its full-scale conflict in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Biden Administration approves new security package worth $300 Million for Ukraine
The Pentagon announced that it would be providing $300 million in security assistance to Ukraine. The latest package, the 39th in a series of weapons, includes artillery and anti armor defenses as well ammunition.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 20, 2022, the US has provided security assistance to Ukraine in an amount of approximately $38 billion.
Germany closes Russian consulates
The German government announced Wednesday that it will close four of its five Russian consulates. This is in response to Moscow’s decision to limit the number German diplomats working in the country.
Reuters reports that Russia will be allowed to maintain its embassy and general consulate in Berlin. Germany will be limited to 350 officials in Russia.
The move comes as relations between the two countries deteriorate due to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. The German Foreign Ministry specifically cited Russia’s new staff limits when it announced its decision.
According to Reuters, a spokesperson stated that “this unjustified decision forces the federal government to make significant cuts in all of its areas of presence in Russia.”
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
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