Ukraine launched a large-scale overnight drone assault on Russia, striking one of the country’s largest oil refineries and triggering a brief fire, Reuters quoted Russian officials as saying on Sunday.

The Kirishi refinery in the Leningrad region was among the main targets. It can process 17.7 million metric tonnes of crude annually, accounting for about 6.4% of Russia’s refining capacity.

Russia’s defence ministry said at least 361 Ukrainian drones were shot down, along with four guided aerial bombs and one United States-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System missile, Reuters reported.

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Falling drone debris caused a fire at the refinery, which was quickly extinguished, AP quoted Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko as saying. He added that no injuries were reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the operation in his nightly address, calling long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure “the most effective sanctions” against Moscow.

“They have significantly restricted the Russian oil industry, and this significantly limits the war,” he said.

Although Russia remains the world’s second-largest oil exporter, a seasonal surge in demand combined with Ukraine’s drone strikes has led to shortages in recent weeks, AP reported.

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Since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has earned about $985 billion from oil and gas exports, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, triggering the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Moscow claims it is carrying out a special military operation to prevent Kyiv from being used as a platform for Western aggression. Ukraine and its Western allies, however, say it is an imperial-style war of occupation.