Edith Hejberg
Kyiv has intensified its drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries. The goal: to choke fuel supply to frontline units and weaken the Kremlin’s financial backbone.
Russian soldiers have reportedly been forced to seek fuel at civilian petrol stations as the army’s own reserves run dry.
But even there, they’re being turned away, caught in a wider crisis triggered by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s refinery strikes cripple supply lines
Kyiv has intensified its drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries. The goal: to choke fuel supply to frontline units and weaken the Kremlin’s financial backbone.
The campaign is targeting key strategic assets with increasing frequency.
Zelensky says 20% of capacity destroyed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims Russian refining capacity has been cut by up to 20% due to these targeted strikes.
It’s a significant blow to a wartime economy heavily reliant on domestic oil processing.
Military vehicles run on empty
With supplies stretched thin, reports suggest many Russian military units are struggling to keep vehicles operational.
The knock-on effect is disrupting combat readiness and troop mobility across several fronts.
Long queues and rationing at petrol stations
Civilians aren’t spared either. Motorists across Russia have been queuing for hours to buy fuel, only to be met with rationing, low stock, or empty pumps. The shortages are no longer isolated, they’re nationwide.
Soldier pleads for fuel—gets denied
In a widely shared video, a Russian soldier tries to buy 120 litres of petrol for his vehicle.
“This is needed for combat missions,” he says, only to be told the station can’t sell to him without special coupons.
“What kind of joke is this?”
Frustration boils over as the soldier protests: “Nothing is more important than the lives of soldiers.” The cashier responds that she can’t hand out fuel she doesn’t have, management has enforced strict rules amid shortages.
Black market thrives outside official stations
Outside the same petrol station, black marketeers are seen selling fuel for cash. With official supplies dwindling, opportunists are stepping in, and profiting, while soldiers and civilians go without.
Ukraine hits major refinery again
On Thursday night, Ukrainian drones struck the Slavneft-YANOS refinery in northern Russia, one of the largest in the country.
It’s a critical supplier of fuel for both civilian and military use, and this isn’t the first time it’s been targeted.
Russia’s fuel infrastructure under siege
This refinery is just one of many hit in recent weeks. Ukraine’s strategy is clear: dismantle the machinery that keeps Russia’s war effort moving, literally and financially.
Economic pressure mounts on the Kremlin
Russia relies heavily on oil and gas revenue to fund its war. As refining and distribution collapse under Ukrainian pressure, Moscow faces growing difficulties balancing its military ambitions with its economic realities.
Soldiers caught in a logistical nightmare
With trucks stalled and fuel rationed, the Russian military is experiencing what analysts call “operational fatigue.”
Troops are now facing logistical delays that could reshape momentum on the battlefield.
Fuel wars signal a deeper vulnerability
While bombs may not fall daily in Moscow, the impact of Ukraine’s energy warfare is being felt at home, and on the front lines.
A country with one of the world’s largest oil reserves is now struggling to fill up its own tanks.
This article is made and published by Edith Hejberg, who may have used AI in the preparation
