Ukraine Hits 3 Russian Energy Sites as Moscow Reports 800-Drone Assault
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 13
Ukraine Hits 3 Russian Energy Sites as Moscow Reports 800-Drone Assault
14 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · May 13
Ukraine said it struck three major Russian energy facilities overnight on May 13 — the Tamanneftegaz terminal, Yaroslavl refinery and Astrakhan gas plant — with fires reported at Taman and Astrakhan.
The General Staff said the targets were chosen to disrupt fuel exports and military logistics: Taman ships oil through the Black Sea, Yaroslavl produces gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and Astrakhan processes Gazprom gas.
Damage was still being assessed, but NASA fire-monitoring data appeared to confirm a blaze at Taman, and Reuters separately reported a May 7 strike had halted all production at a refinery in Perm for weeks.
Russia acknowledged broad overnight drone attacks without naming the sites, then Moscow banned publication of strike damage without official approval, with fines reaching 200,000 rubles.
The strikes came as Russia launched what Zelensky called one of its longest mass attacks on Ukraine, sending more than 800 drones in daytime waves that killed at least six people.
With global oil prices soaring, are Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian refineries inadvertently boosting Moscow's war chest?
How will the new US-Ukraine drone co-production deal counter Russia's rapid battlefield technology adaptation?
As Russia pivots its energy exports to China, can Western sanctions still effectively choke off its wartime economy?
Ukraine’s Drone Offensive Escalates: Strikes on Russian Energy Infrastructure, Economic Fallout, and the Risk of Wider War (2026)
Overview
Ukraine has recently escalated its campaign of drone attacks against Russian energy infrastructure, with confirmed strikes on key facilities like the Yaroslavl refinery. This renewed focus aims to disrupt Russia's war machine by targeting vital oil and gas assets, imposing significant economic and logistical costs. In response to relentless Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, Ukraine is leveraging its growing drone capabilities to strike deep into Russian territory. These operations reflect a strategic effort to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its military operations and highlight Ukraine’s evolving use of asymmetric tactics in the ongoing conflict.