How Ukrainian Drons Maims Russian Oil Refinery

Fire in Affici Refinery in Russia, 28. August 2025

PHOTO: Astra

Ukraine takes a campaign to destroy Russian oil refineries. The Kremlin arrives, raising the costs of his war. The drone campaign also reflects the spread in Ukraine throughout Russia, because Moscow struggles to protect his great territory.

Kiev began targeting Russian oil refineries in late 2023. years. Biden administration, cautious in the growth of oil prices, expressed frustration through these strikes. Missing weapons of western long range, Ukraine has invested in its Drug File. “If we are not invited to NATO, then we must build NATO on our territory”, Ukrainian President Volodimir Green told Economist In February.

Over time, that attacks It is more precise more precise until mid-2025. year, the lack of fuel was over Russia. In late August Ukraine succeeded interference At least 17% of Russia’s purification, according to Reuters. The economist put figure Even higher, almost 20%.

Fuel deficiency also increases the social pressure on the Kremlin how ordinary Russians are increasingly feeling the impact of the war. Toward Moscow timesGas prices in Russia rose to the top at the beginning of September.

Ukrainian war against Russian oil is proved very effective

A former advisor to the Ministry of Defense Ukraine, I told me, “disorders on capacity refining in the domestic market, driving prices of diesel and gasoline. The resulting economic strain encourages public dissatisfaction as everyday cost.”

For Russia, the damage moves deep at home and on the battlefield. Petroleum and gas revenues Bank of war efforts of the Kremlin, from weapons production to influential earnings, need to lure new recruits. Any disorders help in the help of Ukraine defend. “The main goal of Ukraine is to cut off the fuel supplies with Russian army and reduce export revenues that are funded by the war effort of the Kremlin,” Kuza said.

There are reports of long lines on gas stations, in the middle of Russia, in the midst growing Fuel deficiency. The Russian Diary of Rearing export Fulfillment of supply in more than ten regions, but are blamed at seasonal demand and increased tourism. Other openings pointed out “Drone ORBRIS” as a factor. For the Kremlin is an unpleasant narrative: the recognition of Ukrainian attacks in Ukraine means that they will recognize that “special military operation” will not plan.

Volodimir Dubovik, director of the Center for International Studies in the National University of Odessa Mechnikov, told me “Some of them can seem like mosquito bite, but they are recorded together with their various goals and frequency becomes more painful.”

Ukrainian drones achieve what sanctions cannot

After the conflict and the Oval Offices in February with the green trump, he told him that Donald Trump said that “no cards” went to play. Over time, Ukraine showed that she had a lot of tickets to play. Ukrainian drones during 2025. year continuously flew through Russia, excluding airports in Moscow numerous times.

Things have become so bad for Russia that, notice the annual winning day of Parade in Moscow, as reported, asked Kiev to refrain from hitting the capital, toward to RBC-Ukraine. Even Russian Elite in Moscow and St. Petersburg are not spared disorder of Ukrainian drone Attacks. Dealing with the lack of air defense systems, satellite images revealed that Russia was increasingly resorted to deployment Decois on his as extrane.

By June, Kiev continued to show his rise to reach Spiderweb operationThe launch of Rooves of Cheap Wife from Freight Containers deep in Russia, destroying numerous strategic bombings.

Through 2025. year, drone attacks attacked targeted factories supported by a military-industrial complex and hit the Russian energy infrastructure. “Military logistics depends heavily than the fuel, and when the nearby infrastructure is destroyed, units face a growing lack of”, it explained the beauty.

Where sanctions are short, the drones delivered. “Ukrainian impaired on refineries achieve what they do not have. Moscow found ways to adapt to Western sanctions – but so far there is no reliable defense against Ukraine.

Social pressures rise in Russia

Until August, Kiev abolished his “kinetic sanctions” against the Kremlin. As Vladimir Putin Klaska is on side against Ukraine, oil war sets more pressure on the Kremlin. “The Russians continue to find ways to live with the results of these attacks, but it costs them and creates more obstacles that they need to be overcome,” Dubovic said.

In Sarat’s residents grow frustrated As fuel supplies run dry and prices are climbing a week after a week. Officials insist that disorders are temporary and localized, but it is a little convinced. Russian Newspaper They are increasingly dealing with fuel crisis across the country.

4. September Putin was forced admit That Russia is facing a lack of gas, which suggests that the country turns into coal reserves, which will “last for almost a thousand years.” Russian revenues for oil exports fell in August to a 5 year old $ 13.5 billion, Reuters exportAs exports, the Ural Crow was traded by a $ 56 barrel, under the 60-dollar price cap.

The Kremlin faces a delicate balance. The war in Ukraine requires ever major funding, and yet economic pressure Grows. The Central Bank has so far done an impressive job stabilizes economy, but its tools are limited. Businesses are already swollen High interest rates It meant that it contains inflation and rising fuel prices add pressure, threatening to upset that balance.

These attacks alone cannot decide on the war, but they shape their trajectory. Kiev showed that it could hit the Russian economic heart, eroding the income itself that maintains the Moscow war machine.

Putin often throws yourself In the heritage of the Emperor, returning the empire. But the car Nicholas II in the First World War would be remembered, when transferred fronts of front and homemade shortages were unrollied at home as dangerous as an enseas-country foe.