Ukraine Intensifies Drone Strikes on Russian Oil and Military Infrastructure

Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian energy and military infrastructure, aiming to disrupt Russia's war efforts and create domestic pressure for peace. These strikes have targeted numerous oil refineries, including the Gazprom Neft — Moscow Refinery, Russia — Slavyansk-on-Kuban, NORSI, TANECO, Kuibyshev Oil Refinery, Rosneft — Ryazan Oil Refinery, Rosneft — Tuapse Refinery, and Russia — Ufa, causing fires, operational halts, and significant fuel shortages across Russia. Military production facilities, such as the VNIIR-Progress plant and Titan-Barrikady, have also been hit. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has targeted oil infrastructure in the Vladimir region and the Tamanneftegaz terminal. The attacks have extended to logistics routes, including the Crimean Bridge and Chonhar Bridge, disrupting supplies to Russia — Crimea, which has led to severe fuel rationing and an 'emergency situation' declaration. While Russia claims to have intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones, the sustained campaign has challenged Vladimir Putin's narrative of winning the war and forced the Kremlin to acknowledge a 'difficult period' and vow to strengthen air defenses. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly confirmed these strikes, framing them as a necessary response to the ongoing invasion. The attacks have also led to casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in both Ukraine and Russia, with international bodies and leaders like the G7, NATO, and the EU pledging further support for Ukraine's defense capabilities.