Ukraine launches a major strike on Russian oil infrastructure, a depot, and two refineries targeted
Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil infrastructure overnight on June 25, targeting an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai and two major oil refineries in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).
Zelensky said the strikes were part of Ukraine's long-range campaign against facilities that support Russia's war effort.
One of the targets was the Poltavskaya oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, located about 300 kilometers from the front line. According to the SBU, the facility stores and ships diesel fuel and gasoline and contains 28 storage tanks. Videos published on social media appeared to show a large fire at the site. Local Russian officials attributed the blaze to falling drone debris.
Ukrainian drones also struck the Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and Bashneft-Novoil refineries in the city of Ufa, roughly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine's border. Fires were reported at both facilities following explosions, with footage circulating online showing at least two separate fire sites.
The head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, said drone debris fell in an industrial zone and claimed the attack had been repelled. He reported no casualties and said industrial operations were continuing.
The extent of the damage remains unclear, and Ukraine's military had not released additional details at the time of reporting.
The strikes occurred amid a broader Ukrainian drone campaign affecting Russia's Black Sea region. Power outages were also reported in occupied Crimea during the night.
Ukraine has increasingly used domestically produced long-range drones to target Russian oil depots, refineries, logistics hubs, and defense-industrial facilities. Kyiv argues that attacks on energy infrastructure are aimed at reducing revenues that help finance Russia's war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy warns of an imminent offensive from Belarus
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Belarus is actively preparing for a possible offensive against Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, construction is almost finished on military warehouses, new roads for troop convoys, and other infrastructure along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. The most concerning sectors are Kobrin–Kovel, Ivanove–Manevychi, Luninets–Sarny, Rechitsa–Korosten, and Gomel–Chernihiv. He noted that Russian planning documents describe the use of Belarusian territory specifically in the context of the so-called “special military operation.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has already sent clear signals to Minsk regarding these activities and Belarus’s broader cooperation with Russia aimed at prolonging the war. He stressed that Belarus knows exactly what steps it must take to move toward peace, and that the initiative for de-escalation must come from the Belarusian side. The Ukrainian President warned that the development of this border infrastructure for aggression must be stopped immediately.
This statement reflects Kyiv’s growing concern about the opening of a second front from the north, echoing Belarus’s role in supporting Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Two EU countries resist a ban on entry for participants in Russia's war against Ukraine
Italy and France have expressed reservations about a European Union proposal to ban former Russian military personnel from entering the EU as part of the bloc's planned 21st sanctions package against Russia.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, both countries support restrictions on former Russian combatants in principle but are concerned that the proposal could eventually expand into a broader ban affecting all Russian citizens.
Rome and Paris also argue that such restrictions would be more appropriately handled through visa policy rather than sanctions legislation. Another concern is the practical difficulty of determining who actually participated in combat operations, as the current proposal would leave that assessment largely to individual EU member states.
The proposed sanctions package faces several other points of disagreement ahead of discussions among EU member states on June 26.
One contentious issue is the future of the price cap on Russian oil exports. With global oil prices remaining elevated, EU officials are debating whether to keep the cap at its current level or return it to US$60 per barrel. Several maritime and coastal countries are reportedly cautious about the proposed changes.
Another proposal would extend sanctions currently applied to Russia's oil "shadow fleet" to vessels transporting Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). The aim is to prevent Moscow from building a similar shadow fleet for LNG exports. However, some EU countries are seeking a longer transition period before such measures take effect.
Several member states have also raised concerns over planned restrictions on imports of certain Russian fish products.
Other elements of the package include new trade restrictions on key minerals, metals and ores, as well as export controls targeting roughly two dozen companies in countries including China, India, Türkiye and states in Central Asia that are suspected of supplying Russia with goods and technologies used in weapons production.
The discussions highlight continuing efforts by the EU to tighten pressure on Russia while balancing differing economic and political concerns among member states.
Belarusian leader Lukashenko claimed that he met with Zelensky's representatives
Self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that representatives of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited Belarus for talks.
Speaking during a meeting with Andrei Vorobyov, Lukashenko said he told the Ukrainian delegation that Belarus would respond if Kyiv attempted to draw his country directly into the war.
According to Lukashenko, he instructed the visitors to pass a message to Zelensky, warning that if Ukraine tried to involve Belarus in the conflict, "the nature of the war would change instantly" and become "completely different."
Lukashenko claimed he later received a response and suggested that both the Ukrainian representatives and Zelensky understood Belarus' position. He said the sides should seek a "substantial agreement" and avoid escalating tensions.
The Belarusian leader also called for dialogue, saying there was no need for threats or aggressive rhetoric and that all parties should behave "like human beings" while recognizing the realities of the situation.
Throughout his remarks, Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus should not be drawn into Russia's war against Ukraine.
The statement comes days after Zelensky said communications relay equipment allegedly supporting Russian drone operations from Belarusian territory had stopped functioning following a warning from Kyiv. Belarus has remained a key Russian ally throughout the war, allowing Russian forces to use its territory for military operations and logistics, although Belarusian troops have not directly participated in combat inside Ukraine.