Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed the effectiveness of what he terms “Ukrainian long-range sanctions” in response to recent Russian military actions. His comments followed reports of a drone attack in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, which is located over 700 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Zelensky stated that the targeted site was a significant oil facility that contributed to the funding of the Russian war effort. In a message on Telegram, he expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and military intelligence for their actions, which he described as a manifestation of justice.
He emphasized that these sanctions are a direct response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and villages, urging Russia to pursue genuine peace, which he believes can only be achieved through sustained pressure.
The drone attack in Yaroslavl occurred against the backdrop of a declared ceasefire by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Reports from the ASTRА Telegram channel indicate that the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery was ablaze following the assault on the night of May 8. This facility has been a repeated target of Ukrainian drone strikes in the past.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that between midnight and 7 a.m. on May 8, it had intercepted 264 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tula, Ulyanovsk, Yaroslavl, Krasnodar, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Moscow region, occupied Crimea, and over the waters of the Azov and Black Seas.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, various sites within Russia have faced aerial attacks, with oil refineries frequently targeted in 2024 and 2025. Ukrainian forces have also conducted strikes on Russian installations in occupied territories.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed most of these attacks, asserting that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are systematically implementing measures aimed at diminishing the combat capabilities of Russian occupying forces and compelling Russia to cease its armed aggression against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated the effectiveness of drone strikes against Russian military targets following an attack in Yaroslavl. This comes as Russia claims to have intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones amid ongoing hostilities.