Zelenskyy says Ukraine strikes have cut Russia’s oil refining capacity by 20%

Ukraine’s long-range attacks on oil refineries inside Russia have reduced Moscow’s refining capacity by 20%, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday, citing intelligence shared by Western partners.

Speaking to reporters in remarks embargoed until Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that more than 90% of the deep strikes inside Russian territory were carried out using Ukrainian-made long-range weapons. He urged allies to provide additional financial support to expand domestic weapons production.

“We just need to work on this every day,” Zelenskyy said.

Oil exports remain a crucial source of revenue for Russia’s war effort. Ukraine’s strikes on refineries coincide with new U.S. and European Union sanctions targeting Russian energy companies.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, set to take effect on November 21. Zelenskyy said he believes Trump may use the sanctions “as a tool of pressure or dialogue with the Russians.”

Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, the war is nearing its fourth year with no sign of resolution. The Kremlin has shown little willingness to compromise, and fighting continues across eastern Ukraine.

Zelenskyy noted that China and India remain Russia’s largest oil customers but said there are signs of shifting trade patterns.

“India has definitely given all the signals that it will reduce imports of energy resources from Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that he hopes Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea this week will result in further reductions in Chinese purchases of Russian crude.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine currently has 70% of the $2 billion required to finance gas imports for the upcoming winter, as Russia intensifies attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

He also said Ukraine will soon be producing 500 to 800 air-defense interceptors per day to combat Shahed drone attacks, though training operators to use them effectively remains a priority.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine has captured about 2,200 Russian prisoners of war in the past six months amid fierce fighting in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces are attempting to seize the city of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine is reinforcing defenses there with additional troops while continuing talks with Sweden, France, and the United States to strengthen its air power.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv has requested a total of 250 new combat aircraft from its allies as part of long-term defense plans.