Ukraine knocks out Russian refineries as Russia kills dozens in Kyiv

"Ukraine has cut Russia's refining capacity by a fifth, in a bid to starve it of energy and revenue from exports. Ukraine has pounded Russia's refineries with deep strikes in the past week, worsening its petrol shortages and causing Moscow to extend a ban on exports of petroleum products. Russia responded with a deadly attack on Kyiv and a barrage of statements portraying Moscow's special military operation as a success and Ukraine as teetering on the edge of surrender."

"Russian President Vladimir Putin used his appearance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to suggest Russian energy exports to China and India were booming, but reports suggested that Moscow is heavily discounting its crude to hold onto clients. Ukraine's European and regional allies are meeting on Thursday to try to finalise security guarantees in case a ceasefire should come about, while calling on US President Donald Trump to use sanctions to press Putin into direct negotiations with Kyiv."

"Russia redeployed marines and paratroopers elite units from Ukraine's northern Sumy region to the eastern region of Donetsk on September 1, suggesting it may be preparing a renewed push for the city of Pokrovsk, which Ukraine has identified as a Russian key tactical objective in the east since August 2024. Russia last week gave up on an offensive for Dobropillia, a town whose capture would have enabled an encirclement of Pokrovsk from the north, after stiff Ukrainian resistance."

Ukraine's deep strikes on refineries have reduced Russia's refining capacity by a fifth, worsening petrol shortages and prompting Moscow to extend a ban on petroleum exports. Russia launched a deadly attack on Kyiv while portraying its operation as successful and Ukraine as nearing surrender. Vladimir Putin claimed booming energy exports to China and India, but reports indicate Moscow is heavily discounting crude to retain clients. European and regional allies are meeting to finalise security guarantees and urging US sanctions to compel direct negotiations. Russia redeployed elite marines and paratroopers from Sumy to Donetsk, suggesting a renewed push toward Pokrovsk, with intense fighting around Dobropillia, Pokrovsk and Lyman and possible encirclement plans for the fortress belt cities.

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