Ukraine Drones Strike Russian Gas Plant, Oil Refineries; Russia Retaliates

• Ukraine used drones to strike Russia's largest gas processing plant in Orenburg, also processing gas from Kazakhstan's Karachaganak field.
• Long-range UAVs hit the Orenburg plant, located 1,050 miles east of Kyiv; local governor reported minor damage to an industrial facility.
• Ukrainian forces also targeted Temryuk seaport, causing two oil tanks to burn, and the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery with Storm Shadow missiles.
• Russia retaliated with strikes on Ukraine, causing emergency power outages in Odesa, killing one civilian and injuring two, and damaging infrastructure.
• Separately, Poland reported intercepting a Russian reconnaissance aircraft near its airspace and observed smuggling balloons from Belarus.

Why It Matters: Ukraine escalates attacks on Russian energy, prompting Russian retaliation and widening conflict.