Ukraine says drones hit Russian refinery as long-range strikes escalate

Ukrainian servicemen of Khartia brigade check the drone aerial view in the command centre Kharkiv region (Andrii Marienko/AP)

Ukrainian drones smashed into another Russian refinery overnight, starting a fire that produced huge clouds of black smoke, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, in what appeared to be the latest long-range attack on Moscow’s vital oil industry.

The drones targeted the Syzran oil refinery, located more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) inside Russia, Mr Zelensky said on social media, where he posted a video of the aftermath.