**Russian Forces Launch Strike on Ukrainian Oil Refinery**
In a significant escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian forces have carried out an overnight strike on the Kremenchuk oil refinery, which supplies fuel to Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region. According to Russia’s defence ministry, missiles were fired at the refinery from both sea and air, with strike drones also used in what was described as a successful attack.
**Repercussions of the Strike Unclear**
The Reuters news agency has been unable to verify the battlefield report, and there is currently no comment from Ukrainian officials on the Russian statement. The impact of the strike on Ukraine’s military operations remains unclear, but it is likely to be significant given the refinery’s importance in supplying fuel to Ukrainian forces.
**Russian Advances in Other Areas**
Separately, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced that its forces had taken control of the village of Malynivka in the Donetsk region, known as Ulyanovka in Russian. The ministry also claimed that Russian forces had advanced deep into enemy defences in Ukraine’s Sumy region, inflicting heavy losses on Ukrainian units there.
**Ukrainian Response**
In response to Russia’s advances, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Andriivka in northeastern Sumy. He claimed that Russian forces had amassed 53,000 troops in the vicinity, highlighting the scale of the military build-up.
**Escalating Conflict**
The strike on the oil refinery and Russia’s advances in other areas demonstrate a significant escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The situation remains fluid, but it is clear that both sides are committed to pursuing their goals through military means. As the conflict continues to unfold, it is likely that we will see further escalations and increased violence.
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