Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries as High-Stakes Peace Talks Continue

While talks of peace echo in diplomatic corridors, the sounds of war are growing louder on the front lines. Over the Christmas holiday, Ukraine launched a series of significant strikes against key energy facilities deep inside Russia, escalating tensions to a new peak. The situation presents a stark contrast: high-level envoys are negotiating an end to the war, while on the battlefield, the conflict intensifies.

Drone Strikes Hit Russia's Energy Heartland

According to Ukraine's SBU security service, long-range Ukrainian drones targeted oil storage facilities at the southern Russian port of Temryuk in the Krasnodar region and a gas processing plant in the Orenburg region on December 26. Russian officials reported a massive fire at Temryuk that spread across 2,000 square metres. In a separate attack, Ukraine's General Staff announced it struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region with Storm Shadow missiles, describing it as a major supplier for Moscow's military operations.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed its forces had taken control of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, according to Russian state news agencies.

A Cautious Path to Peace

Despite the fierce fighting, diplomatic channels remain open. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke for about an hour with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner on how to end the war. "Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues," Zelenskyy said. "But together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place. The weeks ahead may also be intensive."

From the Russian side, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that negotiations with the U.S. were making gradual progress, describing them as slow-moving but advancing steadily. In another sign of communication, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin had sent the U.S. president a Christmas greeting.

Sanctions Bite as Regional Tensions Simmer

The war's ripple effects are being felt across the region. Poland scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft near its airspace over the Baltic Sea. Warsaw also warned of potential provocations after dozens of objects reportedly entered its airspace from Belarus.

Meanwhile, Russia has acknowledged the impact of international sanctions. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the country's target of producing 100 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually has been pushed back by several years.