Ukraine is stepping up attacks on Russian energy
A dramatic increase in Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, although it banned the government to cope with breaking gasoline exports to the government, gasoline prices in Russia sent the highest prices.
In order to damage the Russian war machine, Ukraine focuses on refineries, pumping stations and drone attacks on fuel trains with an effort to disrupt daily life in Russia. Summer is the highest demand among Russia’s drivers and gasoline farmers.
According to CNN attacks, Ukrainian drones hit at least ten important Russian energy facilities this month.
And the strategy seems to be working. Refinery, according to Ukraine’s intelligence service more than 44 million tons per year – Russia’s capacity of more than 10% of the capacity – took into account.
Among the targets – the giant Lukoil refinery in Volgograd, the largest in Southern Russia. CNN Geographical smoke clouds Fluctuation from the facility was shot in the early hours of August 14. The Russian Ministry of Defense damaged the facility that was re -attacked on August 19.
A big refinery SaratovHe was attacked at the beginning of this month in Southern Russia. And fires continued to burn According to Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems, in another refinery – in the Rostov region – two days after being shot – two days after being shot.
In several Russian regions and additional Crimea, gasoline scarcity is reported. The governor appointed by Russia, Sergey Aksonov The shortage of gasoline was attributed to “logistics problems ve and said that the government has taken all possible measures to buy the necessary amount of fuel and stabilize prices”.
An activist with a pro -Ukrainian group in the Crimea, – yellow ribbon, – Telegram The most popular gasoline class disappeared and said, “It does not allow me to upset that it is the result of good drones working on the Russian economy.”
Despite state subsidies, Russian consumers pay more on the pump. Wholesale gasoline prices St Petersburg Stock Exchange Only this month has increased by about 10% and approximately 50% since the beginning of the year.
According to the army of Ukraine in the Tambov region of Russia on August 19, 2025, the satellite image of an oil pumping station, which is part of the Druzhba pipeline hit by drones. – Maxar Technologies/Reuters
Most of this increase is transferred to consumers, the Russian Far East was particularly affected. Analysts, although the Russian government imposed a ban to export gasoline in late July, they do not expect any relief for at least one month – instead of contributing to an increase in crude oil exports.
“Unfortunately, our prediction will have to wait at least one month for the fall of prices for the fall of prices, Ser Kommersant. Kommersant said that this month’s increase in prices was “due to accidents in oil refineries”.
The army is less affected because the demand is mainly for diesel, its materials are less affected.
A new focus point
Ukraine military and intelligence services, drones, missiles and sabotage Even when a very different conflict comes to the ground. The army claimed that there were long -range attacks this year this year It caused a 74 billion dollar damageApproximately 40% of Russia’s strikes in at least 500 kilometers.
It is not possible to verify such claims, but in recent months there are many visual proofs of the damage to refineries, storage tanks and pumping stations. The repair of such infrastructure is complex by European and US sanctions.
In a report published on Thursday, Ukraine’s external intelligence service said Russian companies have urgently buy oil from Belarus to address internal famine. The refinery of the state in Belarus, BelneftekhimLast week, “Belarus’s interest in petroleum products has increased,” he says.
Ukraine is also trying to prevent Russian’s oil exports. Last week, drones hit the Druzhba pipeline that provided Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia – the two EU countries with their governments in good condition with Moscow.
Both complained to the EU and “Ukraine does not harm Russia with these attacks, Hungary and Slovakia”.
US President Donald Trump is also a hand -written note He told Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that he was “very angry ında about the deterioration.
However, for Ukraine, under pressure on the front lines, the attacks on Russia’s vital energy industry are a way to resist the narrative that Moscow’s victory is inevitable in the end.
Ukraine is trying to add the ammunition of long -range weapons and introduced a domestic cruise missile last week. The manufacturer aims to produce 200 per month.
Missile expert Fabian Hoffman says that for a soft target of Russian refineries, such as distillation columns, for example, Flamingo’s deadly radius will be above 38 meters. This causes significant damage.
The workers are studying the Flamingo Cruise Missile at the Fire Point’s Secret factory in Ukraine on August 18, 2025. – Efrem Lukatsky/AP
“Every missile that successfully hits its target will cause much more damage. [than existing Ukrainian weapons] With the title of 1,150 kilograms of war, Fut says Mick Ryan, the author of Futura Doctrina blog.
“Even though I don’t call it silver bullets, Ukraine will have a significant impact on the capacity of damaging Russia,” at least it is difficult to defend every oil refinery.
In the meantime, analysts do not expect thousands of Russian gas stations to be dry, but the cuts will already increase high inflation and probably means the extension of the export ban on the export in the autumn because the Kremlin tries to reduce prices and supply.
Annoa Abekah-Mensah from CNN contributed to this report
Create an account for more cnn news and newsletter Cnn.com
