0642GMT//Two railway sabotages in Russia kill four people; Ukrainian drones hit Russia's fifth largest oil refinery; interest rate cut disappoints business

OIL REFINERY STRIKE: Ukrainian drones struck the oil refinery in Kirishi in Leningrad oblast, north Russia, on Sunday. The refinery is the fifth-largest in Russia. The extent of the damage is unclear, but officials reported that a fire had broken out. (COMMENT: There is no doubt that Ukraine's strategy of hitting Russia's oil refineries has proved one of its most effective. On Saturday, Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery in Ufa, 1,200km from the Ukraine-Russia border. This is perhaps the most distant oil refinery that it has hit, showing off its range and accuracy. Estimates suggest that 20% of Russia's oil refinery capacity has now been knocked out. The Kremlin just seems unable to protect them. Reduced oil refining capacity has triggered all sorts of problems from fuel shortages to spurring general inflation.)

RUSSIAN DRONE FLIES INTO ROMANIA: A Russian drone flew into Romania's airspace on Sunday, four days after several Russian drones had also violated Poland's airspace. Romanian officials said that they scrambled fighter jets to track the drone.. The drone flew out of Romanian airspace within 50 minutes. (COMMENT: Although Romanian officials said that the Russian drone breach of its airspace was "unacceptable", they also played it down by saying that Russian drones enter Romanian airspace every month. Tension is high among Nato members in central Europe as Russia tests its resolve and response.)

SABOTAGE: An explosion on a railway track in western Russia on Saturday killed three Russian National Guard officers. Another explosion in the Leningrad region on Sunday derailed a train carrying diesel and killed the driver. Ukrainian security services have claimed both attacks. (COMMENT: Ukraine has mounted a successful sabotage campaign against Russian railways throughout the war. Russia's vast railway network is vital to its war effort.)

INTEREST RATES CUT: The Central Bank lowered its key interest rate on Friday to 17% from 18%. This was a slightly lower cut than economists had expected. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina aped Putin in denying that Russia was dealing with a recession. She insisted that, instead, Russia's GDP was growing. (COMMENT: This was a disappointing interest rate review session from the Russian Central Bank for Russian business, which is being sunk by high interest rates, sanctions, the pressure of the war and inflation. It wants harder interest rate cuts and an admission that Russia is in recession. The Central Bank, though, appears more concerned with propping up the Russian rouble and dampening inflation.)

BIRTHDAY AWARD FOR MEDVEDEV: Putin gave Dmitry Medvedev, president of Russia between 2008 and 2012, but better known today for his outrageous rants and nuclear threats against Russia's enemies, the Order of Services to the Fatherland on his 60th birthday. The citation for Medvedev's award was "for his great contribution to strengthening Russian statehood and ensuring national security." (COMMENT: Putin enjoys handing out state awards as birthday presents. Medvedev has always been one of his most loyal acolytes, allowing Putin to appear as the "cool-headed" leader)

REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Russians voted in municipal elections from Friday through to Sunday. There have been multiple accounts of vote-buying for United Russia, the party of Putin. Not all regions are voting. Critics complain that United Russia propaganda is dominating cities. (COMMENT: Russians are voting for 47,000 deputy positions, including 21 new governors and assemblies in 11 regions. Official turnout has varied wildly, from 73% in Tartarstan to 31% in Irkutsk oblast. All the current governors were officially voted back into power, including in annexed Sevastopol. These regional elections were considered more of a chore and formality for the Kremlin, rather than a major propaganda opportunity. United Russia has, of course, won nearly everything with a smattering for the Communist Party. More details of the results are expected throughout the day.)

BELARUS PRISONERS RELEASED: Alexander Lukasheko, the president of Belarus, released 52 political prisoners on Thursday in exchange for promises from the US to reopen its embassy in Minsk and to lift sanctions on the Belarusian airline Belavia. Donald Trump also handwrote Lukashenko a personal note of thanks. (COMMENT: This news item isn't directly related to Russia, but it is still important as it shows just how the US is directing its charm offensive towards Russia's proxies. Belarus is important as it's a testing ground for US foreign policy. Appeasement with Belarus, although on a relatively small scale, could mean more appeasement towards Russia.)