(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukrainian drone strikes have reduced Russia’s oil refining capacity by 45 percent compared to recent years, setting the industry back a quarter of a century and triggering a renewed fuel crisis across the Russian Federation.
Satellite imagery has confirmed the full extent of damage to Russia’s only Soyuz rocket assembly plant in Samara. Four days ago, Ukraine struck the Progress Rocket Space Centre with two Flamingo cruise missiles. High resolution images now show one missile punched through the roof of building 106A, where onboard electrical equipment, control systems, cable networks and rocket instrumentation compartments were installed. The second missile struck building 106, used for final assembly.
The strategic importance of Progress lies in its unique role. The Soyuz-2 rocket is used by Russia to launch military reconnaissance and targeting satellites as well as Rozvet, the new Starlink competitor. Russia has no full-scale alternative for this production. Sensitive equipment and clean rooms inside the building have been ruined, and restoration will take months at full effort.
Ukraine also struck two Wildberries distribution centres on the south side of Moscow. Satellite imagery confirms both warehouses were hit, with the smaller facility largely destroyed.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has finally broken his silence on Ukraine’s attacks. He acknowledged that external pressure and attacks on industrial facilities and infrastructure “certainly cause us harm,” but claimed such strikes “do not, have not, and cannot have critical consequences” for the Russian economy.
Analysts suggest Ukraine’s next targets may include food processing plants. A Ukrainian drone recently struck an Alma food plant, the largest producer of coffee and vending machine ingredients in Russia. This follows a pattern of Russian attacks on Ukrainian food infrastructure, including a baby food factory in June, a pet food warehouse, Ukraine’s largest poultry farm, a hog farm where 13,000 pigs were killed in October 2025, and a World Health Organisation warehouse destroyed last week.
Ukraine’s refining capacity figures show the impact of the drone campaign. Russia previously produced between five and six million barrels of refined products daily. Every month since March, output has declined. The last time Russia produced only 3.6 million barrels per day over a month was in 2001. Ukraine has set Russia’s refining industry back 25 years.
Fuel shortages have returned. Petrol is available at only 28 percent of Russian filling stations. A map compiled by Reuters shows severe fuel restrictions in red and partial restrictions in yellow, with conditions worsening over the last two weeks.
One Moscow resident described her desperation in a video shared online. “I’m desperately looking for gas. Just driving around. Guys, what are we going to do? I just went to five gas stations and not a single one had gasoline. I have 10 litres left. I’m even ready to buy from private sellers.”
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who once ran Russia’s largest oil company, warned that the damage may soon be irreparable. He said real repair of a plant hit with tens or hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives means shutting it down and replacing damaged units. Instead, Russia is halting maintenance to squeeze out more fuel and swapping quality petrol for low grade fuel that ruins engines. He added that no one in Russia actually knows how bad the situation is because nobody is stopping the units for serious studies.
Russia has responded by punishing fuel shortage protesters. Citizens face fines and detention for publicly complaining about petrol shortages, with authorities labelling complaints as unauthorised rallies or illegal campaigning.
In a further sign of economic distress, Russian state development bank has fired its chief economist Andrei Klepach after he said the country was losing the war of attrition with the West. He admitted Russia was losing technological and economic competition not only to China and the United States, but in some respects even to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces have also damaged or destroyed over 200 smaller cargo vessels and inland tankers that used to be economically productive in the Sea of Azov. Between 20 and 30 fuel tankers or long haul vehicles are being droned every day, mostly by mid-range Hornet drones.
Ukrainian intelligence reports Russia could open a northern front by February if it orders a new mobilisation, potentially targeting the Chernihiv region from Bryansk.
Meanwhile, Russian missiles hit a post office and shops in Kharkiv, killing 10 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on a busy intersection surrounded only by residential buildings, promising Ukraine will respond.
Ukraine’s defence capabilities continue to expand. Firepoint 7 ballistic missiles with a range of 200 kilometres could be used on the battlefield as soon as next month. Firepoint 9, with a range approaching 800 kilometres, is expected before Christmas and can reach Moscow.
In political developments, President Zelenskyy has formally appointed General Kamar as defence minister. Ousted minister Fedorov has called for wartime elections, a proposal widely rejected by Ukrainian officials, members of parliament and civil society. Critics noted Britain did not hold elections during World War II, prioritising survival over campaigns.
Ukraine has brought home 103 prisoners of war in the latest exchange.
Be First to Comment