Ukraine Drone Strikes Russia Refineries

Ukraine has significantly ramped up its long-range drone campaign, striking deep inside Russia to target strategic oil refineries, fuel depots, and military logistics hubs. These domestically produced drones, like the 'Liutyi', now have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, enabling Ukraine to take the war into Russian territory. The attacks have caused gasoline shortages and rationing in Russia, and have cut Russia's refining capacity by an estimated 500,000 barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency. While Western analysts from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Rane Corporation note the impact is serious but not crippling, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserts that Russia has lost up to 20% of its gasoline supply. This escalation by Ukraine comes as the United States and Europe increase sanctions on Russia's oil industry, and Ukraine's request for US long-range Tomahawk missiles remains stalled. The drone campaign represents a strategic shift, forcing Russia to reroute supplies and stretch its air defenses.