Ukraine adjusts its strikes on Russia's energy industry to target critical components

Kyiv is shifting its long-range drone operations toward causing longer-term shutdowns at industrial facilities. Ukraine has shifted its long-range drone campaign against Russia’s energy sector—from broad attacks on oil refineries—to more targeted strikes focused on critical components that are difficult to replace. According to Ukrainian military planners, drone operators, and energy experts, Kyiv’s objective is no longer simply to ignite fires or destroy storage tanks at refineries, but rather to impose prolonged production stoppages and increase the cost of each strike for Moscow. A member of Ukraine’s long-range strike forces told the Financial Times that this strategy is carefully “targeted and coordinated.” Reported on June 19, 2026 — Thoughts by Tang Miao: Ukrainian drones are increasingly targeting key technical nodes—rather than refineries themselves—in frequent attacks on Russian oil refineries. Ukraine’s strikes against Russia’s refining industry are becoming increasingly effective due to new tactics. Whereas primary targets used to be the refineries themselves, drones now more frequently strike secondary processing nodes—whose restoration requires significantly more time and resources, according to analysts at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Experts note that modern attacks no longer focus on storage tanks or primary crude distillation units, but instead target sophisticated, specialized equipment—particularly hydrocracking units. These units convert intermediate products into finished petroleum products such as diesel fuel. Unlike basic refinery components, such equipment is high-tech, custom-manufactured, and subject to long lead times. Due to sanctions and limited access to Western technology, replacing them may take several months. Another feature of this new campaign is repeated strikes against the same target. Whereas previously damaged facilities could resume operations within days, repeated attacks now greatly extend repair timelines. The Tuapse refinery on the Black Sea coast serves as a typical example: it has been struck multiple times over recent months. Analysts estimate that its oil transshipment volume in May dropped by 91% year-on-year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated last weekend that he had instructed Ukraine’s newly appointed Chief of the General Staff and acting Defense Minister to expand the country’s long-range strike operations. Incoming Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said he had jointly developed plans with newly appointed Chief of the General Staff Mykhailo Drapati “to push the war onto the aggressor’s territory as far as possible.” “Ukraine will continue to exert shock and technological pressure on Russia by all available means,” Khmara said. “We must scale up means that have already proven effective,” he added, specifically citing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities. Two long-range drone operators said target selection is guided by detailed technical analysis conducted by officials, taking into account logistics, flight paths, and broader operational priorities. They explained that before missions, drone units receive briefings from energy engineers and industry experts on which components are indispensable to refinery operations—and which ones require the longest time to replace. “Engineers and experts tell the drone units: ‘Strike these pipelines here, or this chimney, hit this space, or this equipment connection point, or this box,’ etc.,” one drone operator said.

How does Ukraine use precision drone strikes to disable Russian oil refineries?

According to an analysis by The Washington Post of selected Ukrainian strikes, at least two-thirds of the 36 major Russian refineries tracked by market analytics firm S&P Global Energy were struck between April 1 and August 31—some as many as five times—with an average frequency of roughly one strike every three days. The Washington Post reviewed dozens of strikes, focusing particularly on those for which post-strike satellite imagery was available and damage clearly visible. Three refining experts examined the satellite images to identify the types of components struck. Of the 54 strikes analyzed by The Washington Post and reviewed by experts, more than half appeared to have damaged desalting and distillation units. More than one-third of the 54 strikes appeared to hit nearby secondary processing units—which further refine distilled materials into higher-value products such as gasoline, aviation fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas. “We target the most critical parts of the refinery,” said a Ukrainian drone battalion commander in an interview with The Washington Post. “We don’t need to strike the entire facility. We know exactly where to hit to shut it down permanently.” Per military protocol, he requested to be identified only by his call sign, “Tango.” On February 24, 2022—the second day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—the European Union, as part of a comprehensive sanctions package, banned exports to Russia of atmospheric and vacuum distillation units and secondary processing equipment. The United States followed days later, restricting export licenses for similar components—effectively prohibiting their sale to Russia. Alexander Kliment, Eurasia Group’s Director for Europe and expert on the Russian economy, said these sanctions make it difficult for Moscow to obtain spare parts needed to repair equipment damaged by Ukrainian strikes. “I don’t think the damaged equipment is irreparable—the problem is that the frequency of strikes exceeds the time required for repairs,” he said. Sergey Vakulenko, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, noted that even if equipment is repaired, repeated strikes place cumulative stress on metal structures, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic failure. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed concern in recent weeks about Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, claiming that rising global diesel prices are “primarily caused by the Russia-Ukraine war”—not the Iran conflict. On Friday, he announced that the U.S. would ease restrictions on imports of Russian diesel fuel, effectively aligning Washington with Moscow against Ukraine and its bombing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. On Saturday, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for refusing to halt strikes on Russian refineries. “He better stop it for me,” Trump told reporters. “It’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.” Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged during a public appearance in October that Ukraine’s targeting of Russian refineries aimed to undermine the economy. “Have they achieved their goal? Partially—because, according to our estimates, we lost about 1% of GDP,” Putin said. He pledged improvements to the country’s air defense systems, and his government issued a decree permitting state seizure of privately owned critical infrastructure—including refineries—if owners fail to protect such assets or refuse to repair them. The government also, for the first time, began allowing private companies to purchase and install their own air defense systems. The Financial Times previously reported on Ukraine’s targeting of critical, hard-to-replace refinery components.

Ukraine to Resume Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries, FT Reports

22 hours ago

Zelenskyy announced Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries following violations of an energy ceasefire. Tensions escalated amidst reports of potential US-Russia diesel and gas supply deals.

bloomberg

2026-06-20

Ukraine's Zelenskiy confirms drone strike on refining facilities in Russia's Tyumen region

2026-10-14

Ukraine to Resume Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries, FT Reports

Ukraine to Resume Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries, FT Reports

FAQ