Ukraine drones strike more Russian oil sites as fuel crisis grips 90% of regions

Ukrainian drones struck oil infrastructure across Russia overnight into Thursday, targeting a port in Taganrog and oil storage facilities in Azov in the Rostov region, while an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region caught fire, as Kyiv's sustained campaign against Russian energy infrastructure continues to deepen a nationwide fuel crisis.rubryka+2

Deepest Strike in History

The latest attacks follow a landmark strike on July 6, when Ukrainian drones hit the Omsk Oil Refinery in western Siberia — Russia's largest — located nearly 2,500 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Reuters ↘ 0.72% reported the refinery halted operations after a crude distillation unit caught fire, knocking out roughly 38% of the plant's production capability. The facility, owned by Gazprom Neft, suspended sales of petrol and diesel on the St. Petersburg International Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.cnbc+2

Anatoly Seryshev, President Vladimir Putin's representative in Siberia, confirmed the damage in a statement: "Facilities at the Omsk oil refinery were damaged as a result of (Monday's) attack. No plant personnel were injured".reuters

Russia's Fuel Crisis Deepens

The cumulative effect of months of Ukrainian drone strikes has forced Moscow to ban all diesel exports until July 31. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak announced the decision during a televised meeting with Putin, stating it would "increase supplies to the domestic market" and that Russia would begin importing fuel in July.thebarentsobserver+2

More than 90% of Russian regions have introduced some form of rationing or reported shortages, according to Al Jazeera. By July 2026, fuel restrictions were directly affecting approximately 50 million people — roughly 35% of Russia's population. Energy Intelligence reported that more than 3.1 million barrels per day of Russian refining capacity is currently offline, with processing runs falling to their lowest levels in over 20 years.aljazeera+2

Global Ripple Effects

The diesel export ban sent global fuel prices surging, with European gasoil futures rising 13% and New York diesel futures jumping 11% on Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↗ 0.06%. CNBC reported that Ukraine's drone campaign has also reshaped NATO's defense spending priorities, with alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte announcing a $40 billion counter-drone investment initiative.cnbc+1

Ukraine's military general staff has claimed strikes on more than 300 Russian oil facilities since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The campaign's escalation shows no sign of slowing, with at least four refineries hit in the first ten days of July alone.wikipedia+1