What did Ukraine target inside Russia, and why did President Zelenskyy justify these strikes?

Ukraine struck oil facilities deep inside Russian territory, specifically a fire at an industrial site in Ufa—home to Bashneft’s refining complex with three oil refineries—located over 1,600 km from Kyiv. President Zelenskyy justified the strikes by stating, 'Our targets are consistently defined facilities that sustain the war effort,' and noted that 'these refineries process millions of tons of oil each year.' He also confirmed previous strikes on the same Ufa refinery in April, June, and July as part of Ukraine's effort to extend drone operations deeper into Russia.

How many aerial attack weapons did Russia launch against Kyiv overnight, and what was the interception rate for Iskander-type ballistic missiles?

Russia launched a total of 358 aerial attack weapons against Kyiv overnight—comprising 35 missiles and 185 UAVs of various types—according to Ukraine’s General Forces. Of approximately 27 Iskander-type ballistic missiles fired, only one was intercepted, as Zelenskyy explained on X: 'simply because there are no interceptors for the Patriot systems.'

Ukraine Hits Russian Refineries as Kyiv Faces Missile Barrage

Aug 1, 2026

Ukrainian forces struck oil refineries in Russia's Ufa region, including Bashneft's complex, while Russian missiles hit Kyiv causing casualties. President Zelenskyy confirmed the targets are facilities sustaining the war effort amidst ongoing aerial attacks.

bloomberg

2026-08-01

Ukraine Hits Russian Refineries as Kyiv Faces Missile Barrage

Ukraine Hits Russian Refineries as Kyiv Faces Missile Barrage

FAQ