Emergency workers fight a fire in an apartment building hit by Russian drones in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 7, 2025 (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Saturday’s Coverage: Kyiv Hits One of Russia’s Largest Oil Refineries

UPDATE 1858 GMT:

In his nightly address to the nation, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said “it is important that today we saw a broad response from our partners” to Russia’s record missile and drone strikes.

Clearly, Russia is trying to inflict pain on Ukraine with even more brazen attacks. This is a clear sign that Putin is testing the world – whether they will accept or tolerate this.

Zelensky called for toughened sanctions and trade restrictions, and for support for Ukraine’s long-range capaibilities for attacks crippling Russian infrastructure, especially oil refineries and gas pipelines.

UPDATE 1758 GMT:

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump Administration is prepared to work with European allies on new sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil.

“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us,” Bessent said. “We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up, versus how long can the Russian economy hold up.”

Bessent did not explain how “European partners” are not following the US. The European Union is currently preparing a 19th package on sanctions on Moscow over its full-scale invasion.

This summer Donald Trump threatened toughened sanctions on Russia if it did not halt attacks on Ukrainian civilians, setting a 50-day and then a 10-day deadline. However, he dropped the topic after he hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

The Administration has raised its tariffs on India’s goods from 25% to 50%, citing Indian purchases of Russian oil.

UPDATE 1413 GMT:

Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Svydyrenko speaks from the Cabinet of Ministers building, struck in Russia’s record missile and drone attack this morning:

I urge the world to turn outrage over Russian crimes into concrete support for Ukraine. Not for the walls of this building, but to protect our people and communities across the country.

We need stronger air defense – more systems and more ammunition – to shield our cities and our energy system as winter approaches. We need tougher sanctions that will deprive the aggressor of oil and gas revenues, the very resources funding its terror.

UPDATE 1038 GMT:

As well as hitting a major oil refinery overnight (see 0656 GMT), Ukrainian drones have struck a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline in the Bryansk region in western Russia.

European Council President António Costa has emphasized support for Ukraine:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed:

UPDATE 1032 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky comments on this morning’s Russian record assault:

Such killings now, when real diplomacy could have already begun long ago, are a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war….The world can force the Kremlin criminals to stop the killings – all that is needed is political will.

Such killings now, when real diplomacy could have already begun long ago, are a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war. It has been repeatedly said in Washington that sanctions will follow a refusal to talk. We must implement everything that was agreed in Paris. We also count on the implementation of all the agreements to strengthen our air defense. Every additional system saves civilians from these vile strikes. The world can force the Kremlin criminals to stop the killings – all that is needed is political will.

UPDATE 0726 GMT:

The toll from Russia’s record assault across Ukraine this morning has risen to at least 11 civilians murdered and 75 injured.

In Kyiv, a mother and her newborn baby were killed, and at least 20 people were injured (see Original Entry).

Nine Ukrainian regions were attacked by 810 drones and 13 missiles.

Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted:

We will rebuild what has been destroyed. But the lives lost cannot be restored. Russia continues to terrorize and murder our people every single day.

The world must answer this terror not with words alone, but with decisive action. Sanctions pressure must be intensified, above all against Russian oil and gas. New restrictions are needed that will strike at the Kremlin’s military machine.

And most importantly, Ukraine needs weapons. Only strength can stop the terror and prevent Russia from killing Ukrainians every day.

UPDATE 0706 GMT:

Amid Russia’s record-setting assault on Ukraine early Sunday, Polish and allied aircraft were activated to ensure the safety of Poland’s airspace.

A Russian missile crossed Polish airspace for 39 seconds, Poland’s operational command posted.

Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness.

UPDATE 0700 GMT:

A Russian strike on the Sumy region in northeast Ukraine murdered one person and wounded several others.

A 9-year-old child was among the wounded in the town of Putyvyl.

In the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine, at least 15 civilians were injured by a Russian drone. Four were hospitalized.

A kindergarten was destroyed.

UPDATE 0656 GMT:

Ukrainian drones have reportedly struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai in southwest Russia.

Residents reported a large fire around 2:15 a.m. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the blaze and smoke rising from the complex.

The local administration said a processing units caught fire; however, the blaze, covering several square metres, was quickly extinguished.

The refinery, about 500 km (311 miles) from the border, produces more than 6 million tons of fuel annually. It was most recently hit on July 7 when one of its technological workshops was damaged.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: In a record-setting attack across Ukraine, Russia has murdered at least two civilians in Kyiv: a newborn baby and her mother.

The Russians fired missiles and 810 drones overnight, the largest assault during its 42 1/2-month full-scale invasion.

An elderly woman died in a shelter in the Darnytskyi district. The cause of death was not immediately clear.

A pregnant woman is among 17 people injured.

A resident in the Sviatoshynskyi district said:

There was a young woman living on the 6th floor, who had recently given birth. She was thrown out into the street by the blast wave.

She was found under the slab of the building at 5 a.m. The child was also found dead.

Scores of buildings were set on fire, including the Cabinet of Ministers building in the Pecherskyi district in the center of the capital. Several floors of a nine-story residential block were partially destroyed in the Sviatoshynskyi district in the west of the city.

Russia was “deliberately and consciously striking civilian targets”, posted the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Timur Tkachenko.

In the Poltava region in central Ukraine, the city of Kremenchuk was shaken by dozens of explosions, cutting power to some areas.

Strikes on Kryvyi Rih hit 10 apartment buildings, homes, an educational institution, and local businesses. At least three people were hospitalized.

In the port city of Odesa in the south, civilian infrastructure and residential buildings were damaged, with fires in several apartment blocks.