A man was killed in a morning attack on Ukraine's Rivne region and three others were injured in strikes on Kyiv Oblast overnight, Ukrainian authorities said Friday, as Russian forces launched 227 drones at Ukraine. Meanwhile, a fire reportedly broke out at Russia's Afipsky oil refinery following a drone attack, with social media footage showing black smoke billowing from the facility in the Krasnodar Krai region.
Oleksandr Koval, head of the Rivne Oblast Military Administration, said one man had been killed Friday. In Kyiv Oblast, Timur Tkachenko, head of the military administration, reported three injuries in the Boryspil district.
A fire broke out in a private residential house and an outbuilding, both completely destroyed, Tkachenko wrote on Telegram. He also wrote that energy infrastructure facilities had been damaged in the Bila Tserkva and Obukhiv districts.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces launched 227 drones from Thursday evening into Friday morning. "According to preliminary data, as of 8 am, air defences have shot down or neutralised 196 enemy UAVs of the Shahed type (70 of which were jet-powered), Gerber drones and other types of drones; around 15 attack drones are still in the air, and combat operations are ongoing," the air force said.
On the Russian side, a fire was reported at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai overnight following a drone attack. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted the refinery in response to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says the site can process around 6.25 million tonnes of oil per year, and Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate says it also helps supply fuel to Russia's military.
After a short pause, Kyiv resumed strikes on Russian refineries last week despite sustained pressure from Washington to stop such attacks. US President Donald Trump has said strikes on Russian refineries are at fault for rising global diesel prices as he has looked to shift blame from the Iran war. Ukraine has ramped up strikes on the Russian energy sector this year, targeting oil refineries, terminals and depots to hit a critical economic driver for Moscow and increase pressure on Vladimir Putin's war machine.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The escalation in drone strikes on both sides marks a continued intensification of the war, with Ukraine targeting Russia's energy infrastructure and Russia launching large-scale drone barrages on Ukrainian civilian and energy targets.
- Rising global diesel prices linked to refinery strikes have drawn US attention, with President Trump blaming Ukraine for the cost increases, creating friction between Kyiv and Washington.
- The strikes on energy infrastructure could deepen the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine as winter approaches, while damage to Russian refineries may affect global fuel markets.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then, Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and depots to disrupt Moscow's military supply lines and economic revenue. The US has urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian refineries, with President Trump attributing global diesel price rises to those attacks. Last week, Kyiv resumed such strikes after a brief pause.
Key Perspectives
Ukrainian authorities: Reported the death of one man in Rivne region and three injured in Kyiv Oblast from Russian drone strikes. The air force said it shot down or neutralised 196 of 227 drones launched.
Ukraine's General Staff and Main Intelligence Directorate: The Afipsky refinery can process about 6.25 million tonnes of oil per year and supplies fuel to Russia's military.
US President Donald Trump: Has said strikes on Russian refineries are driving up global diesel prices, shifting blame from the Iran war.
What to Watch
- Whether Ukraine continues drone strikes on Russian refineries despite US pressure, and any further US response.
- The toll on Ukraine's energy grid as Russian drone attacks persist into winter.
- Global diesel price movements and market reactions to refinery damage.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedOne person was killed and three were injured in strikes on Ukraine.Euronews: “One killed and three injured in strikes on Ukraine as blaze reported at Russia's Afipsky oil refinery”
- SupportedA fire was reported at Russia’s Afipsky refinery overnight following a drone attack.Euronews: “A fire reportedly broke out at Russia's Afipsky oil refinery overnight following a drone attack.”
- SupportedUkrainian authorities reported a man killed in Rivne and three people injured in Kyiv Oblast overnight.Euronews: “Ukrainian authorities said on Friday that one man had been killed in a morning attack on the Rivne region. Three others were also reportedly injured in strikes on Kyiv Oblast overnight.”
- SupportedRussian forces launched 227 drones at Ukraine from Thursday evening into Friday morning.Euronews: “the Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces had launched 227 drones at Ukraine from Thursday evening into Friday morning.”
- SupportedThe air force said that, by 8 am, 196 drones had been shot down or neutralised, around 15 attack drones remained in the air, and operations were ongoing.Euronews: “According to preliminary data, as of 8 am, air defences have shot down or neutralised 196 enemy UAVs of the Shahed type (70 of which were jet-powered), Gerber drones and other types of drones; around 15 attack drones are still in the air, and combat operations are ongoing,”
- SupportedOleksandr Koval, head of the Rivne Oblast Military Administration, said one man was killed in a morning attack on Friday.Euronews: “Oleksandr Koval, the head of the Rivne Oblast Military Administration, said on Friday that one man had been killed in a morning attack on the region.”
- SupportedTimur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, said three people were injured in overnight strikes in Boryspil district.Euronews: “Three others were also injured in strikes on the Boryspil district in Kyiv Oblast overnight, according to Timur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration.”
- SupportedTkachenko wrote that a fire destroyed a private residential house and an outbuilding, and that energy infrastructure was damaged in Bila Tserkva and Obukhiv districts.Euronews: “A fire broke out in a private residential house and an outbuilding. Both structures were completely destroyed,”
- SupportedSocial media images and video showed black smoke billowing from the refinery in Krasnodar Krai.Euronews: “Images and video footage circulating on social media show black smoke billowing from the facility in the Krasnodar Krai region.”
- SupportedThe refinery can process around 6.25 million tonnes of oil per year and helps supply fuel to Russia’s military, according to Ukrainian sources.Euronews: “The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said the site can process around 6.25 million tonnes of oil per year. It also helps supply fuel to Russia's military, according to Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate.”
- SupportedUkraine has repeatedly targeted the refinery in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.Euronews: “Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted the Afipsky refinery in response to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.”
- SupportedKyiv resumed strikes on Russian refineries last week after a short pause, despite pressure from Washington; Trump blamed refinery strikes for rising global diesel prices, and Ukraine has ramped up strikes on Russia’s energy sector this year.Euronews: “After a short pause, Kyiv resumed strikes on Russian refineries last week despite sustained pressure from Washington to stop such attacks. US President Donald Trump has said strikes on Russian refineries are at fault for rising global diesel prices”