International-News

Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv as drone attack hits refinery

Explosions in the Ukrainian capital overnight; reported drone strike targets major Russian oil facility deep behind the front line

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv as drone attack hits refinery marked a new escalation overnight, with explosions reported in the Ukrainian capital and a separate strike targeting a major oil facility inside Russia.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded ahead of the attack as at least six explosions were heard across the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defense systems were engaged as Russian forces launched ballistic missiles toward the العاصمة. Fires broke out in the Holosiivskyi district, in the southern part of the city, following the impact.

The strike came hours after a meeting in Paris of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of Kyiv’s allies, which pledged to strengthen support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Moscow. During the meeting, nine European countries agreed to form a “purely defensive” coalition aimed at developing capabilities against ballistic missile threats in Europe.

Separately, a large oil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan region was reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones. Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising from the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat facility, located in the city of Salavat, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the front line.

Eyewitnesses described multiple blasts, while videos circulating on social media showed thick columns of dark smoke above the plant. The Kyiv Independent reported the incident but said it could not independently verify the footage.

Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat is among Russia’s largest petrochemical complexes. According to the Moscow Times, the facility processed 7.2 million metric tons of oil feedstock in 2024, accounting for 2.7 percent of the country’s total refining volume. The refinery had already been targeted twice by Ukrainian drones in September 2025.

THE LATEST NEWS