A Ukrainian drone attack has ignited another significant blaze at the Russian oil refinery in Tuapse, a Black Sea port city, marking the third assault on the facility in under a fortnight. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the strike, labelling it an attack on civilian infrastructure. However, Kyiv maintains that such operations are intended to hamper Russia's oil industry and reduce the revenues that finance Moscow's war efforts, rendering these facilities legitimate military targets.
Details of the Attack
Dense black smoke once again billowed from the Tuapse refinery, which has an annual production capacity of approximately 12 million tonnes. According to industry sources cited by Reuters, the refinery had already ceased operations on 16 April due to prior drone damage to the port, which prevented the shipment of its output. The head of the Tuapse district, Sergei Boyko, ordered residents living near the refinery to evacuate by bus to a local school on Tuesday. Following an earlier attack on 20 April, black rain fell over the town and a popular beach resort, leaving an oily residue. Putin has dispatched an emergencies minister to Tuapse to manage the situation.
King Charles Addresses US Congress
In a significant speech to the US Congress, King Charles made a pointed reference to the defence of Ukraine. He said: "In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when Nato invoked article five for the first time, and the UN security council was united in the face of terror, we answered the call together – as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder, through two world wars, the cold war, Afghanistan, and moments that have defined our shared security. Today, Mr Speaker, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine and her most courageous people. It is needed in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace."
Last week, the king's son, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, visited Kyiv and urged "American leadership" to uphold its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict, noting that the US was among the nations that convinced post-Soviet Ukraine to surrender its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees. President Trump rebuffed Harry's comments, stating that "Harry is not speaking for the UK," but may find it more challenging to dismiss remarks from the king, whom he greatly admires.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Steps Down
The acting US ambassador to Ukraine is set to leave her post after less than a year, the State Department announced, amid a pause in US-brokered ceasefire efforts to end Russia's invasion. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Julie Davis had grown frustrated with President Trump over his insufficient support for Ukraine – a reason that also led her predecessor to depart. The State Department, however, stated that she is simply retiring from the department.
Hungarian Election Winner Seeks Meeting with Zelenskyy
Péter Magyar, the winner of the Hungarian election, has proposed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the rights of ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. Unlike his defeated rival Viktor Orbán, Magyar does not share overt hostility towards Ukraine or support for Russia. However, he still opposes fast-track Ukrainian membership of the European Union and asserts that Kyiv's treatment of ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine will be crucial for rebuilding bilateral ties. Orbán was accused of exaggerating and distorting grievances between Ukraine's ethnic Hungarian population and the Kyiv government. Notably, ethnic Hungarians are among those fighting for Ukraine against Russia, including the head of Ukraine's drone force.
