Ukrainian drones targeted three Russian oil refineries on Monday, continuing a pattern of attacks on the nation's energy infrastructure. The strikes occurred in Russia's Perm region, including a refinery owned by Lukoil, as well as in Tatarstan and Ryazan, according to a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The attacks followed a weekend visit by U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Kyiv. The envoys met with both President Zelensky and Russian officials in an effort to resume peace talks and wind down the more than four-year war.
"Substantive progress was made, including movement on scheduling additional trilateral talks," Witkoff stated on Monday via X. "President Trump is working hard to stop the killing and work towards a lasting and durable peace."
According to Witkoff, both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a three-day ceasefire prior to the U.S. envoys' visit. The delegations, which included officials from the National Security Council, State Department, and Treasury Department, met with President Putin and President Zelensky to discuss proposals from each side. In Kyiv, the U.S. delegation was joined by national security advisors from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
In addition to the refineries, Ukrainian drones also struck a launch and storage site for drones in Russia's Kursk Oblast and "a target" in the Black Sea, Zelensky reported. Videos posted by the Ukrainian president appeared to show long-range drones returning from refinery sites with smoke visible.
Some U.S. administration officials have linked Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries to rising gas prices. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that such strikes have been "the single-biggest factor" affecting prices, in addition to other refinery closures.
"Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets and refined products. So that is creating upward price pressure on a global basis," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told "Fox & Friends."
President Zelensky indicated that Russian strikes on Kyiv's airports, which forced the U.S. envoys to travel by train, were a reaction to American diplomacy. "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport," he said.
Discussions during the envoys' visit also covered Ukraine's air defense needs and technological cooperation, particularly in preparation for winter. "Our partners know what can bear fruit and what must bear fruit ahead of winter," Zelensky stated. "We are coordinating our next steps. We are preparing the next meetings and communications. Ukraine’s proposals are constructive, and they always will be."
