Ukraine launched a major attack on Russia with at least 361 drones over the night, some of which caused a fire at the huge Kirris refinery in northwestern Russia, according to local officials.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that at least 361 Ukrainian drones were overthrown by anti -aircraft defense systems, including four guided aerial bombs and a US Himars.

The Kirisi refinery of Surgutneftgaz, one of Russia’s two largest, was among the goals of Ukrainian drones, Russian officials said.

The Governor of the Leningrad District, Alexander Drozdenko, said three drones were destroyed in the Kirisi area, adding that the fire that broke out in the refinery since the fall of the debris had been extinguished. According to him, there are no casualties.

In the meantime, the Ukrainian army has confirmed that he had attacked the refinery, stressing that he had launched “a successful blow”.

About 17.7 metric tonnes of crude Russian oil are refined (about 355,000 barrels a day), 6.4% of the country.

In recent weeks, the US has stepped up pressure on NATO member states to tighten the sanctions imposed on the Russian energy sector in order to limit Moscow’s revenue and contribute to the end of the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump yesterday said he was ready to impose new sanctions on Russia provided that NATO member states would cease to buy Russian oil and adopt similar measures.