Energy ministry: Russian strikes hit refinery and gas facilities
Photo: Poltava Regional Prosecutor's Office

The Ministry of Energy confirmed that on the night of August 19, 2025, Russian forces carried out strikes on energy facilities in the Poltava region, using cruise missiles and attack drones.

Oil refining infrastructure was damaged — following earlier strikes on June 15 and 21 — and one of the facilities of Ukraine’s gas transmission system was targeted by dozens of drones.

According to the Ministry, the attacks triggered large-scale fires and damaged ground equipment.

Volodymyr Kohut, Acting Head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, earlier reported that the strikes caused direct hits and falling debris in the Kremenchuk and Lubny districts.

These attacks are part of Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Since March 2025, more than 2,900 such incidents have been recorded.

The Ministry of Energy considers this a violation of international humanitarian law and calls for tougher sanctions against Russia.

  • Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its own drone operations against Russian oil refineries and storage facilities, launching daily strikes — mainly in southern and central Russia — ahead of the planned meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. On August 18, a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil pumping station completely shut down the Druzhba pipeline.