Ukraine says strikes knocked out over half of Russia's oil refining capacity

Ukraine claims its long-range strikes have neutralized more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity, hampering Moscow's ability to supply its forces during its 4 1/2-year-old invasion. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said late Sunday that recent strikes on refineries in cities including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran had put 51% of Russia's oil refining capacity out of action, a claim that could not be independently verified. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said analysts from Ukraine's intelligence services, the General Staff, and the Defense Ministry had assessed the strikes' effects, calling it a significant blow to the enemy's economy and ability to carry out aggression. Russia has historically been the world's third-largest producer of refined fuel products after the U.S. and China, and the International Energy Agency says diesel output has fallen by about 30%, with drivers waiting up to 40 hours to fill up at gasoline stations. Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Oct. 1 that the strikes had cost Russia roughly 1% of its gross domestic product, and the Kremlin has banned diesel exports, pushing global prices higher and prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to urge Ukraine to stop hitting refineries.