Ukraine struck a key Russian port and oil refinery hours before the Trump–Putin Alaska summit on ending the war.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia just before a high-stakes summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska. Ukrainian forces struck the Olya seaport in Russia’s Astrakhan region, hitting a ship reportedly carrying Iranian-supplied Shahed drone parts and ammunition. The strike, confirmed by Ukraine’s Armed Forces on Friday, also targeted the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast.
The operation took place on August 14 and involved Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces in coordination with other military branches. Kyiv said the goal was to disrupt Russia’s ability to launch aerial attacks using Iranian drones.
Russia imports military supplies from Iran through Port Olya, which is located on the Caspian Sea. According to reports, the targeted ship, Port Olya 4, was armed with bombs and UAV parts. A battle damage assessment is underway.
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Ukrainian officials said this strike is part of a wider plan to weaken Russia’s military logistics before possible diplomatic changes from the Alaska summit.
The attack on Port Olya followed a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on southern Russia. In Rostov-on-Don, a drone hit an apartment block and injured 13 people.
In Belgorod, drones injured three people and killed one person in the village of Pristen. Russian regional authorities confirmed these incidents.
The Trump–Putin meeting will take place on August 15. The US had suggested including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but Putin rejected the idea. Trump has said he will know “within two minutes” if Putin is serious about ending the war.
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The White House described the meeting as a “listening exercise” for Trump. The US president also warned that there is a 25% chance the meeting will fail. Both leaders may need a second meeting to reach a deal. This will be their first formal summit since the Helsinki meeting in 2018.
The Ukrainian strikes send a signal before the Alaska talks — Kyiv will not pause its military pressure while negotiations happen. The operation also highlights the ongoing role of Iranian drone supplies in Russia’s war effort.
