OMM Newsroom
A Ukrainian drone attack overnight sparked a fire at Russia’s second-largest oil refinery. Moscow, meanwhile, said strikes had hit Ukrainian energy facilities and a cargo ship in the Black Sea. The events came ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi, AnewZ reports.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, said on Monday that the fire at the Kirishi oil refinery had been brought under control. He also said a woman was killed when drone debris fell on a residential building in the city of Vsevolozhsk.
Fire at Kirishi refinery brought under control
According to a statement Drozdenko posted on Telegram on Monday, the facility attacked overnight is officially called Kiri shinefteorgsintez. The governor said Russian air defense forces intercepted 113 Ukrainian drones and firefighters brought the blaze under control.
An apartment in Kirishi was damaged, while in Vsevolozhsk drone debris landed on the roof of a residential building and killed a woman, officials said. Unverified footage circulating on social media appeared to show a large fire at the refinery. The extent of the damage and its impact on operations remain unclear.
The refinery, about 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, can process up to 20 million metric tons of oil a year, equivalent to about 400,000 barrels a day. Leningrad region is also a key hub for Russian oil and grain exports through the Baltic Sea.
Moscow says it struck energy facilities in Ukraine
Russian state news agencies reported on Monday that Moscow’s forces had struck three power substations in Ukraine overnight. The agencies also said Russian forces attacked a cargo ship in the Black Sea. Moscow claimed the vessel was carrying weapons to Ukraine.
There was no immediate information on the extent of damage to the substations or the ship, or whether electricity supplies had been disrupted. Both sides continue to strike infrastructure far from the front line.
The latest attacks came as Ukraine renewed a campaign targeting Russian oil refineries that began in late October. The attacks reportedly intensified after an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump failed to take hold. The Kirishi facility has previously been targeted several times as part of Ukraine’s wider campaign against Russian oil-processing infrastructure.
Russia has continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid. Concerns about widespread power cuts are growing as winter approaches. Ahead of a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris on Monday, diplomats warned that new Russian attacks on electricity infrastructure could leave millions of Ukrainians without power during the cold months. The threat has increased pressure in the talks to address protection for key energy facilities.
Reports of the attack on the cargo ship have also heightened concerns about maritime security in the Black Sea. Protecting shipping routes and restoring access to the sea are among the issues expected to feature in broader discussions aimed at reducing military operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a news conference in Berlin on November 3 that restoring access to the Black Sea and protecting energy infrastructure were key priorities for the upcoming talks. He also backed discussions on reciprocal limits on attacks against critical infrastructure.
U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine are due to begin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, November 10, and continue on Wednesday. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced on November 2 that the talks would take place, saying they would address post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian issues and efforts to end the conflict.
The Kremlin confirmed on November 3 that it would take part in the talks and appointed presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky as Russia’s chief negotiator. Zelenskyy also confirmed the planned dates in Berlin that day, saying he hoped working-level discussions could pave the way for a direct meeting between the two countries’ leaders.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told RTL radio in an interview on November 8 that France would take part in the Abu Dhabi discussions but did not say who would represent the country. G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris on Monday are expected to consider additional military, financial and energy assistance for Ukraine.
The talks are set to take place as strikes on energy and transport infrastructure continue and Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on the terms of a possible peace agreement.
