The fire at the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Russia has continued for a third day, with new reports indicating the blaze has spread to an additional storage tank as of this morning. Smoke from the ongoing incident is visible on satellite images, extending an estimated 90 kilometers, according to footage shared today. The refinery has been burning for at least two days, with the latest information confirming the fire's progression. While Rospotrebnadzor has assured that the smoke is safe, the extent of the damage and the cause of the initial fire remain unclear. In other developments, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to discuss territorial issues solely along the current front line and only in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing Ukrainian legislation and public opinion. Meanwhile, EU diplomats cited by Welt am Sonntag suggest China has indicated a readiness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission, but only under a United Nations mandate. Russian state media and pro-Kremlin outlets are reportedly preparing the public for a potential expansion of the conflict, pushing a narrative that Estonia is preparing to attack Russia. This tactic is described as a familiar playbook used before the invasion of Ukraine, aiming to create an enemy image to justify further military action. A fire station in Dobropillia, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, was damaged yesterday following shelling by the Russian army. Separately, footage has emerged showing a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum conducting a bombing run using French-supplied AASM Hammer guided bombs against a Russian target. Economic reports from Russia indicate significant discrepancies in gasoline prices. Rosstat data shows lower prices for AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline in Primorsky Krai compared to observed prices, with actual prices reportedly 26% higher. For example, AI-92 gasoline is listed at 63.18 rubles per liter by Rosstat, while photographic evidence shows prices of 80 rubles. Similar discrepancies exist for AI-95, with Rosstat listing 65.87 rubles against observed prices of 86 rubles. Comparisons between Moscow and Vladivostok also show higher prices in the Russian Far East, with AI-92 at 80 rubles per liter (+33%) and AI-95 at 86 rubles per liter (+32%), with queues reported even at these prices.
