Ukraine attacks major Russian refinery and oil pipeline hub with drones in Samara region

KYIV, Oct 2: Ukraine said it attacked one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries and a key hub in the country’s crude-pipeline network, intensifying its campaign against crucial infrastructure to limit Moscow’s ability to finance the war.

Drones hit Lukoil PJSC’s Volgograd refinery overnight, as well as a major oil-pumping complex in the Samara region, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Fires were recorded at both sites, it said on Telegram, adding that the extent of the damage was still being assessed.

The Volgograd refinery can process about 300,000 barrels of crude a day. The Samara pumping station is a crucial part of the system, feeding domestic refineries and key export routes toward the Black and Baltic seas and the Druzhba pipeline.

Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil assets, particularly refineries, are a response to Moscow’s almost daily strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, Black Sea ports and ships, as well as other civilian targets. The strikes have damaged Russia’s downstream industry and prompted the government to restrict most exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Lukoil and Russia’s oil-pipeline operator Transneft PJSC didn’t immediately respond to Bloomberg requests for comment.

“We’re responding fairly to the Russian escalation with our long-range sanctions,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday on Telegram, adding that areas attacked overnight include the Krasnodar, Samara, Volgograd and Nizhny Novgorod regions — home to several fuel-producing plants.

Russia repelled Ukrainian attacks on four oil refineries and is assessing damage at only one of them, Interfax reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. He said the threat to refineries remains elevated, though protection measures have reduced the scale of damage.

Satellite images taken by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System on Friday show fresh heat anomalies both at the refinery site and the oil-pumping complex, likely indicating blazes.

The Samara oil pumping station is Europe’s biggest tank farm and a major hub in Russia’s crude network. It has a storage capacity of more than 1.6 million cubic meters, and handles supplies from western Siberia and Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment whether its crude flows via the Samara oil pumping station were affected.

The Volgograd refinery, which halted operations after a previous attack at the end of July, had gradually been restoring process rates in September.

Any Power Behind flydubai Plot Will Pay 'Very Heavy Price', Warns Netanyahu

TEL AVIV, Oct 2: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that Israel would impose a "very heavy price" on any power behind the flydubai incident, without offering evidence that any country was responsible.

"As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer: The attacker underwent Islamist radicalisation. He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price," Netanyahu said of the co-pilot assailant.

Netanyahu did not identify any country as a potential culprit but for years has been quick to point the finger at Iran, which Israel and the United States attacked in February.

US President Donald Trump, who in April reached a ceasefire with Iran that is now in tatters, said Thursday in response to a question that he was "hearing" that Iran was involved and that the country will "be hit very hard" if so.

Israel and the United States have linked Iran's Shia clerical state to numerous attacks around the world since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979.

But it has little-known connection to hijackings, hallmarks of Al-Qaeda during the September 11, 2001 attacks and of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the 1960s and 1970s.

Netanyahu has previously said the pilot was from Oman and earlier left open the possibility that he was experiencing mental problems.

Israeli officials and witnesses say the co-pilot of the Tel Aviv-bound flight on Wednesday stabbed the Indian pilot, who let passengers come into the cockpit to overpower the attacker. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with no deaths.

G7 Nations To Release 100 Million Barrels Of Oil Amid Fuel Price Surge

PARIS, Oct 2: G7 countries agreed Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from their reserves over four months, leaders said, agreeing to "refrain from export restrictions on energy" and urging others to do the same.

The announcement came after G7 leaders held talks to coordinate action on fuel prices, after the United States upped pressure on Europe to release its strategic reserves by threatening a diesel export ban.

The seven countries agreed to "a coordinated release through the IEA of 100 million barrels to begin immediately over four months, including a frontloaded substantial diesel release within the first 20 days," they said in a joint statement released by French President Emmanuel Macron's office.

The leaders also said that there would be no ban on diesel exports between them.

"We reaffirm our commitment to refrain from export restrictions on energy and energy products between G7 countries and call on all producers to refrain from imposing bans that could exacerbate market tensions," the leaders said.

"Our citizens' concerns about energy prices remain a top priority," they added.

"We will monitor developments closely and stand ready to adjust measures as needed."

Macron had convened a video call of G7 leaders -- a group comprising also Britain, Japan, Canada, Germany and Italy -- to discuss joint action after he spoke with Donald Trump.

Trump has floated the possibility of banning US exports of diesel, which is used in trucks and other hauling vehicles, an alarming prospect for the EU, which relies heavily on fossil fuel imports.

Putin Praises Modi, Says He Has 'Good Ideas' For Ending Ukraine War

MOSCOW, Oct 1: Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to end the Ukraine war, saying he has "very good ideas" for a peaceful resolution.

Speaking at an event in Moscow, Putin said that Modi, despite having "good relations" with him, has constantly raised the question of ending the Ukraine conflict, now in its fifth year.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good and even friendly relations, personal good relations, constantly raises the question and asks the question about putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine," he told the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts.

"He (Modi) has an avid interest and very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions. In that sense, naturally, the Prime Minister takes a neutral position but with an interest in the end of the conflict. I think it's my duty to say that directly. And we are thankful to the Prime Minister for his ideas," Putin added.

UK-Iranian National Arrested On Terror Suspicion Over Air Force Base Incident

LONDON, Oct 1: British police have arrested a dual UK-Iranian national on suspicion of plotting a terror attack following a security incident at a US-run air base on the weekend.

The 27-year-old man was arrested in London on Thursday, and police have searched two properties in the UK capital.

On Sunday, five men, all in their 20s and from London, were arrested over the incident at RAF Fairford, which has been used by American bombers to strike Iran. They have since been released on bail.

Counter-terror police said a second man, a 26-year-old UK national, has also been questioned under caution.

"As we've made clear, we're looking at all possible angles - including possible foreign state involvement," the senior national coordinator for counter terrorism policing for the Metropolitan Police, Vicki Evans, said. "I'd like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this investigation."