Ukraine has launched a fresh wave of long-range drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, targeting oil depots, fuel facilities and two oil tankers in the Sea of Azov, officials from both countries said on Thursday.
Russian authorities confirmed that drones struck oil depots in the Tver and Stavropol regions overnight, while Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar said two oil tankers caught fire in the Sea of Azov. He added that one vessel was still burning, although all crew members were safely evacuated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks also hit a reserve fuel storage facility about 800 kilometres from the front line, an oil-pumping station in Ufa, and an oil-loading terminal in Russia's Rostov region.
Kyiv said the strikes are part of its strategy to weaken Russia's military logistics and energy supplies, describing the campaign as "long-range sanctions" in response to continued Russian attacks and Moscow's refusal to end the war.
The latest attacks come amid reports of fuel shortages across Russia, with many regions experiencing rationing or disruptions in petrol and diesel supplies following repeated strikes on refineries and storage facilities.
Russia's Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems intercepted 73 Ukrainian drones overnight. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 94 attack drones and two ballistic missiles, damaging several locations despite Ukrainian interception efforts.
The renewed escalation follows the NATO summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence systems under licence. Trump described Ukraine's cross-border strikes as an escalation that could ultimately contribute to ending the conflict.
However, the Kremlin rejected that assessment, insisting that increased military pressure would not force Russia into concessions and warning that it could expand its military operations in eastern Ukraine.
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