As reported in the morning briefing, Ukraine's military has struck two Russian oil refineries in targeted attacks, following a night of Russian strikes that killed at least six people and injured 36 in the eastern city of Balakliia and the northern Sumy region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted "Russia's oil revenues, which it uses to finance the war and the killing of Ukrainians." He added: "Ukraine's Defence Forces struck the aggressor's facilities more than 1,300 kilometres from the frontline. The Bashneft-Novoil refinery was hit in Bashkortostan. In the Yaroslavl region, nearly 700 kilometres from our border, the Slavneft-YANOS refinery was hit." "Russia must choose peace," he said.
These attacks come at a particularly sensitive time as Ukraine grows concerned about the lack of air defence missiles to protect its skies. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged to "urgently" look into this after speaking with Zelenskyy last night. Later this month, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to make their first visit to Kyiv for direct talks with Zelenskyy, with the issue of US licensing the manufacturing of Patriot missiles to Ukraine likely to be discussed.
Meanwhile, Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, in a press conference yesterday, hinted at the possible involvement of "foreign powers" remaining in "competition" with Europe on hybrid threats. Additionally, several countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe remain on red alert due to extreme temperatures. Austria and Slovakia recorded their highest temperatures ever on Wednesday, and more extreme heat is expected today, including in Italy.
This is Thursday, 6 August 2026, with Jakub Krupa, and this is Europe Live.