Putin downplays Ukrainian refinery strikes, vows retaliation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries caused no significant damage and promised Moscow would retaliate, Interfax reported. Putin described the strikes as hitting "here and there" with nothing particularly significant, according to Reuters. His comments followed a major Ukrainian drone attack that sparked a fire at an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region Thursday morning, per the regional governor. The Ryazan refinery, owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft and supplying fuel to Moscow, represents nearly 5% of Russia's total refining capacity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine suspended energy infrastructure attacks for three days to comply with US wishes but resumed them because Russia continues striking Ukrainian energy sites.