Ukraine has struck several key oil industry facilities in Russia, just days after the United States decided to temporarily ease restrictions on Russian oil exports.

According to official Ukrainian sources, two refineries in the Samara region were targeted overnight, as well as other strategic points. These include an oil terminal in Krasnodar, the port of Vysotsk on the Baltic Sea, and a fuel depot in Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not provide direct confirmation of the strikes, but said air defenses had neutralized 258 Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, local authorities in some regions acknowledged that there had been explosions and fires at various facilities.

In the Krasnodar region, officials reported that an oil depot in Tikhoretsk was engulfed in flames, with dozens of vehicles and hundreds of personnel deployed to extinguish them.

The commander of Ukrainian drone units, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, described the operation as a direct reaction to the American decision to temporarily allow Russian oil exports, calling this step "cynical" and with consequences for the lives of Ukrainians.

The US Treasury Department's decision, approved on Friday, allows Russian oil exports until May 16, with the aim of easing pressure on global energy markets, affected by tensions in the Middle East.

This is the second time the US administration has taken such a measure, despite criticism, while energy revenues continue to be an important source of funding for Russia's war.

Analysts warn that recent developments could further increase tensions in the region, at a time when international energy markets remain volatile.