As reported by the British BBC, Zelenskyy called the attacks on Russian oil refineries, their terminals and oil storage facilities"the most effective sanctions... that work the fastest." According to him, these attacks significantly limit the capacities of the Russian oil industry"and this significantly limits the war."

Zelensky was responding to reports on Sunday that Ukrainian drones had hit one of Russia's largest oil refineries, located in the city of Kirishi in the Leningrad region in northwestern European Russia. He also mentioned Ukraine's attack on the Russian port of Primorsk - where, according to information verified by Ukraine,"significant damage" was caused.

Today I want to especially thank all our warriors who are inflicting truly significant losses on Russia. Losses at the front. Losses along the border. Losses on Russia's own territory thanks to our long-range strikes. The most effective sanctions – the ones that work the fastest…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) September 14, 2025

Moscow reports massive attack

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday evening, September 14, that Russian air defense systems shot down at least 361 drones, as well as four guided aerial bombs and a US-made HIMARS missile overnight. The Russian ministry did not provide details on the location of the attacks. However, it acknowledged a fire at the Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, one of the two largest refineries in Russia.

Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said three Ukrainian drones had been destroyed in the Kirishi area and that a fire caused by falling debris had been extinguished. The incident did not cause any casualties or injuries. However, local residents shared footage of powerful explosions and raging flames on social media, which was published by the opposition Astra channel.

The Ukrainian command confirmed the attack on the Kirishi refinery and described it as successful. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the extent of any damage to the facility.

The Kirishi refinery processes approximately 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian oil, representing 6.4 percent of the country's total production.

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Ukraine launched a massive attack on Russian regions on the night of January 14 using a combination of drones and US ATACMS missiles. In the Russian city of Engels, where the Russian strategic bomber base is located, a drone damaged an unspecified industrial enterprise, Saratov Region Governor Roman Busargin said without further details. Flames also engulfed an oil refinery in the Saratov Region and a gas storage facility in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan. Source: Twitter: Anton Herashchenko, JayinKyiv/Source: Twitter/Anton Herashchenko, JayinKyiv

The United States has in recent weeks increased pressure on NATO countries to tighten energy sanctions against Russia in an effort to limit its revenues from energy sales. US President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the United States is ready to impose new sanctions on Russia, but only if all NATO countries stop buying Russian oil and implement similar measures as the United States.

Reuters added that the EU is sticking to its deadline to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028. It decided to do so last week, despite pressure from the US to act faster.