Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had approved a 40-day offensive campaign to “influence” Russia to end the war.
Zelensky said he made the decision after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service.
He also confirmed that Kyiv’s forces had attacked two more Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500km from the frontline, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300km from Ukraine, in the latest blow to the rival’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, France claimed on Thursday that its forces had intercepted a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker, just days after the British Royal Marines stormed a ship in the English Channel.
French president Emmanuel Macron said his navy intercepted the tanker as it transited near the coast of Sicily, accusing Russia of using the ship to skirt Western sanctions.
“This new action against the shadow fleet, conducted days after a similar operation by Britain, shows Europeans’ determination,” he said, adding that the interception took place on Tuesday.