An oil refinery in Ryazan in Russia burns after a Ukrainian drone strike, September 5, 2025

Tuesday’s Coverage: UN — Russia’s Drones Hunt Civilians in “Crime Against Humanity”

UPDATE 0724 GMT:

Ukraine’s air defenses downed 93 of 126 drones launched by Russia overnight. UAVs hit 10 locations.

UPDATE 0719 GMT:

Ukraine has also struck a storage container with fuel and lubricants in the city of Simferopol in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The Russian proxy governor Sergey Aksyonov confirmed the drone strike and subsequent fire. He said there were no casualties and emergency services are working at the scene.

UPDATE 0647 GMT:

US intelligence services assess that Vladimir Putin is determined to carry on his invasion and overrun Ukraine, according to “a senior U.S. official and a senior Congressional official“.

Legislators were briefed on the analysis this month.

The two sources said Putin is now believed to be more entrenched than ever in his determination, despite heavy Russian troop losses and economic difficulties at home. The Kremlin is committed to seizing Ukrainian territory to justify the human and financial toll.

UPDATE 0638 GMT:

One civilian was murdered and three injured in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine amid Russian attacks on 32 settlements over the past day.

Seven apartment buildings, seven private homes, administrative buildings, a private garage, vehicles, and a gas pipeline were damaged.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: In its latest attacks behind frontlines, Ukraine has struck oil refineries and a chemical plant in western Russia overnight.

Residents, videos, and photos confirmed the attack on the NS-Oil refinery in the Ulyanovsk region. A large blaze was set at the complex.

The second attacked refinery was in the Mari El Republic, around 1,000 km (620 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The Stavrolen chemical plant was also set afire in the Stavropol region, videos established. The plant, a subsidiary of the privately-owned energy giant Lukoil, manufactures benzene, polyethylene, and other petrochemical goods for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine flew drones towards Moscow for the third consecutive night, halting or restricting flights at the Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. Ten other airports in western Russia suspended operations.

Kyiv has escalated drone attacks since the start of August, hitting at least 16 of 38 Russian oil refineries. At one point this autumn, output was down around 20%, contribution to gasoline shortages across the country and in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Monday that domestically-produced Flamingo and Ruta long-range missiles have been used in combat for the first time.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure that this year we try not just one, two, or three, but to make a serious attempt [to do more],” he said.

The President did not elaborate say where or when the missiles were used.