Moscow oil refinery hit by drone attacks is unlikely to resume production this year, sources say

The tide has turned.

Ukraine is starting to regain more ground than it is losing for the first time since 2023. Ukrainian forces liberated more territory than they lost in the last two weeks of February 2026 for the first time since the Summer 2023 counteroffensive. Russian forces suffered a net loss of 116 square kilometers of territory in April 2026. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on May 15 that precise Ukrainian strikes, the destruction of Russian reserves, and constant pressure on Russian assault units have allowed Ukrainian forces to increasingly seize the tactical initiative and force Russian forces to react to a Ukrainian-defined operational tempo.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/ukraines-intermediate-range-strike-campaign-and-new-mechanized-attacks-herald-the-start-of-a-new-phase-of-the-war/

Not to mention the thousands of children Russia kidnapped, and god knows what happened to them.

Of course Russia is creeping forward. I makes no sense for Ukraine to let their people die to protect every square km of Ukraine. Their strategy is it slow Russia as much as possible while limiting their own losses. Basically make Russia bleed out and never reach Kiev.

As far as I know, Ukraine is now taking more territory than it is losing. It is Ukraine that is now constantly creeping forward. Russia is losing occupied territory.

Right after it collapsed, Russia lost a good chunk of its territory and later fought two bloody wars in Chechnya which more or less turned its military into a glorified joke you see today.

as a strategic ally

Yes, but Ukraine is already a major strategic ally, helping partners learn modern drone warfare.

Europe will need Ukraine to build up their defensive capabilities.

Absolutely, Ukraine has by far the strongest military in Europe now. But as mentioned before, this process has already started.
There are major cooperative work going on between Ukraine and European countries already. It is not only Europe helping Ukraine, it's already both ways. Ukraine has managed to have production enough in some areas that Ukraine is even selling military equipment too now.

think the term is "Sky High"

Well, it's not like a bomb hitting fuel tanks is going to make that much fire and smoke