A dramatic rise in Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries has sent gasoline prices in Russia to record highs, despite the government banning petrol exports to cope with the crunch.

Russia accused Ukraine on Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence.

Russia accused Ukraine on Sunday of striking one of its nuclear power plants in an overnight drone attack that caused no increase in radiation levels. The alleged attack sparked a fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant near the Russia-Ukraine border,