Moscow, Aug 24: As Ukraine intensifies attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, a petroleum crisis is worsening inside the country. Drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have disrupted fuel supplies, pushing domestic petrol prices to record highs. Even government restrictions on petrol exports have failed to curb prices. Normally, the summer season sees high petrol consumption from farmers to drivers, but repeated targeting of refineries, pumping stations, and fuel-laden trains by Ukraine has worsened the crisis.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, at least 10 major Russian energy facilities have been destroyed by drones just this month. The targeted refineries had an annual production capacity exceeding 44 million tons of petroleum, more than 10 percent of Russia’s total production capacity.
The largest attack hit the Lukoil refinery in Volgograd, the biggest refinery in southern Russia. CNN confirmed that the plant was seen burning after a strike early on August 14. The same refinery was attacked again on August 19. Other large refineries in Saratov and Rostov regions have also been targeted by Ukrainian drones.
Fuel shortages have appeared across several Russian provinces and in occupied Crimea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed governor of Crimea, described the shortage as a logistics issue and said the government is taking all possible measures to stabilize supply and prices. Ukrainian-supporting groups active on social media, however, interpret the shortages as a successful outcome of drone attacks.
Despite government subsidies, Russian consumers are paying high petrol prices. On the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange, wholesale petrol prices rose 10 percent just this month, and roughly 50 percent since the start of the year. The impact has been especially severe in eastern Russia, where 40 percent of attacks occurred more than 500 kilometers inland.
While these claims cannot be independently verified, ample visual evidence shows damage to refining centers, storage tanks, and pumping stations in recent months. Repair efforts have been further complicated by European and U.S. sanctions.
A recent report from Ukrainian foreign intelligence noted that Russian companies are sourcing petroleum products from Belarus to address supply shortages. According to Belarus’s state refining company, interest in Belarusian oil in the Russian market has risen sharply. Experts say prices are unlikely to drop in the near future. In fact, government export restrictions have boosted crude oil exports, placing additional pressure on the domestic market.
Energy Strikes as a War Strategy
The Ukrainian military has expanded long-range warfare strategies using drones, missiles, and sabotage. Ukraine claims such attacks have caused $7.4 billion in damage this year alone. Ukraine has also targeted the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. While these European countries have expressed concern, Ukraine views this as a strategic blow to Russia’s energy exports.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has unveiled a new cruise missile, the “Flamingo,” produced domestically with a monthly production capacity of 200 units. Experts suggest these weapons could inflict significant damage on Russian refineries.
Although thousands of Russian petrol stations are unlikely to close immediately, rising prices and government attempts to control them may force continued export restrictions in the coming months.
For Ukraine, targeting Russia’s energy sector while bearing frontline pressure is not just a military tactic; it also aims to undermine Russia’s narrative of inevitable victory.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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