Two oil tankers caught fire in the Sea of Azov and oil facilities in Tver and Stavropol were hit Thursday, extending Ukraine’s latest wave of long-range strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said the attacks also struck a reserve fuel depot 800 kilometers from the front and an oil-pumping station in Ufa nearly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, part of Kyiv’s “long-range sanctions” campaign.
The campaign is deepening pressure on Russia’s fuel network, with gasoline shortages, rationing and long lines at filling stations already reported in multiple regions.
Russia said it downed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine said Russia launched 94 strike drones and two ballistic missiles, with 19 drones and both missiles hitting 13 locations.
The strikes came a day after Trump said the U.S. would license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, signaling a sharp improvement in ties after their February 2025 clash.
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How Ukraine’s 2026 Attacks on Russian Oil Tankers and Refineries Sparked a Nationwide Fuel Shortage and Political Crisis
Overview
Ukraine has escalated its campaign against Russian logistics by launching drone strikes on eight Russian oil tankers in the Sea of Azov, targeting vessels delivering fuel to Crimea. This follows earlier attacks on other 'shadow fleet' ships and is part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian supply lines. As a result, Crimea has experienced fuel shortages and declared a state of emergency. These direct strikes on naval logistics highlight Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russian military capabilities in Crimea by cutting off vital resources and complicating Russia’s ability to support its troops.