Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Facility in Samara Following U.S. Energy Deal Announcement

Ukrainian forces launched a drone strike on Russia's major oil depot in the city of Samara, coming less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia would help supply diesel to the United States to lower domestic fuel prices.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that a pumping station and several storage tanks were hit during the operation, noting that the full extent of the damage is currently being assessed. Military officials confirmed that four large RVS-50000 storage tanks were destroyed, triggering a massive fire at the Samara fuel facility.

"Attacking such targets represents the exercise of Ukraine's undeniable right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter," the General Staff emphasized, adding that the goal is to curtail the military and economic capabilities of the Russian Federation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the U.S.-Russia energy arrangement in an interview, calling it unfair and a weak decision.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes continued targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages in Kyiv. An attack on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians, including three children.