Ukraine Strikes Russian Refinery and Oil Terminal as Moscow Attacks Kill 12 in Kyiv
Russian forces struck the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on 20 August 2026, injuring at least ten people and hitting shops, businesses and infrastructure with drones and FAB-250 aerial bombs, while Ukraine strikes on Russian energy sites took place in parallel. [1] [2]
Russian Attacks on Donetsk Cities
A drone attack on Sloviansk at 08:20 hit a shop in a residential area, causing a fire and injuring three people. [1] Kramatorsk was struck nine times from 10:50, injuring seven people and damaging a shop, a business and an infrastructure facility. [1] Russian forces used FAB-250 aerial bombs fitted with UMPK kits in the strikes on Kramatorsk. [1] Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, stated that the Russians are once again striking cities in broad daylight – shops, businesses, residential neighbourhoods. [1] Filashkin added that it is dangerous to stay in Donetsk Oblast and urged residents to stay safe and evacuate to safer oblasts. [1] All appropriate emergency services responded to the scenes in both cities. [1]
Ukraine Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities
Ukraine strikes hit the Taneko oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan on 19 August and the night of 19-20 August, followed by a fire at the facility. [2] [3] The Taneko refinery processes up to 16 million tonnes of crude oil per year and produces a wide range of petroleum products including motor fuels. [2] [3] The facility supports Russia's armed forces by supplying the enemy army. [2] [3] Ukraine strikes also targeted the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Volna in Russia's Krasnodar Krai on the same nights, with NASA's FIRMS satellite monitoring system detecting a fire at the terminal. [2] [3] The Tamanneftegaz terminal has a capacity of up to 19.9 million tonnes of oil, petroleum products and liquefied hydrocarbon gases per year. [2] The terminal handles transshipment of oil and petroleum products from rail transport onto sea vessels and supports the logistics and fuel needs of Russian troops. [2] [3] The Taneko refinery was previously targeted by Ukrainian forces on Aug. 10, when a fire was recorded at the site. [3] The Tamanneftegaz terminal was previously targeted in June, when damage was reported to three oil storage tanks, a pipeline and loading infrastructure. [3] Information on the extent of the damage from the latest strikes is being gathered. [2]
Ukrainian forces strike a Russian oil refinery and terminal. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Massive Russian Assault on Kyiv Region
Separate Russian strikes overnight on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 12 people, damaged residential areas, warehouses, a medical facility and an educational institution. [4] [5] The massive attack on Kyiv struck residential areas and warehouses, with a medical facility and an educational institution also damaged. [5] Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the death toll in the capital had risen to eight with 33 people wounded. [5] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the death toll stood at 12 people killed in the capital itself and one in the surrounding region. [5] The attack lasted nine hours and combined various types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. [5] Russia launched at least 44 missiles, of which 39 were shot down. [5] Moscow said it hit military-industrial facilities, a transportation and logistics centre and warehouses in Kyiv and its region. [5] An attack in the Brovary district of the broader Kyiv region killed one man and wounded another. [5] Warehouses in Boryspil outside Kyiv were damaged, including a facility operated by the Ukrainian Red Cross. [5]
NATO Neighbour Responses
The attacks prompted security responses in neighbouring NATO member states. [5] Poland's military command mobilised aircraft and activated air defences aimed at protecting its airspace, particularly in areas bordering Ukraine. [5] Romania's defence ministry said radar systems detected aerial targets near the Ukrainian border overnight, prompting the scrambling of two Spanish fighter jets deployed on NATO missions and a Romanian air force helicopter. [5] The ministry said a drone entered Romanian airspace near Galati before crashing in an unpopulated area in the country of Tulcea. [5]
Context of Escalating Long-Range Attacks
The two countries have ramped up long-range attacks in recent months, driving up the civilian death toll on both sides in the four-and-a-half-year war. [4] [5] Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure in recent months, targeting refineries and other energy facilities that help finance and supply Russia's war effort. [3] [5] Russia reported downing 726 Ukrainian drones fired overnight. [5] The foes have ramped up long-range attacks in recent months, driving up the civilian death toll on both sides. [5] Zelensky urged a global response to Moscow's escalation of the four-year war. [5]
What to watch next: Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war, while Russia has fired a record number of missiles in July according to analysis of Ukrainian air force data.
