Ukraine has disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity through a wave of recent drone strikes targeting key infrastructure, Reuters reports. The attacks, carried out over the past month, have disrupted fuel processing, sparked gasoline shortages, and hit the core of Moscow’s war economy as Washington seeks to broker a peace deal.

Ukraine strikes 10 refineries, targets export terminals

Reuters calculated that Ukraine’s strikes have taken out 1.1 million barrels per day of Russian oil refining capacity. The drones targeted 10 plants, including Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery and Rosneft’s facility in Ryazan. Other damaged refineries include those in Rostov, Samara, Saratov, and Krasnodar regions.

In addition to oil refineries, Ukrainian drones attacked the Druzhba pipeline and Novatek’s Ust-Luga export terminal and gas processing complex on the Baltic Sea. The fire at the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov Oblast was still burning as of 25 August, days after being struck by drones.

The Syzran refinery in Samara Oblast was critically affected — key equipment was destroyed, rendering it unable to function. Afipsky in Krasnodar Krai and the facility in Novokuybyshevsk were also hit.

Fuel shortages hit occupied territories and Russia’s south and far east

Fuel shortages followed in parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine, southern Russia, and the Russian Far East. Moscow had already banned gasoline exports in July due to growing domestic demand.

According to Sergei Vakulenko of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, the damaged plants have lost only part of their output, but even limited disruptions can impact supply. He previously worked for Gazprom Neft.

Russia depends on oil and gas for a quarter of its budget revenues. This year, it raised defense spending by 25%, reaching Cold War–era levels. Despite sanctions, Moscow continues large-scale weapons production. Still, economic growth has slowed, causing concern in the Kremlin.

Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated drone assault on Russian territory overnight, targeting critical infrastructure including the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast and the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, according to regional governors.

Strategic port generating war funding revenue comes under attack

Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that air defenses allegedly destroyed 10 drones over the Ust-Luga port facility, located around 2000 km away from Kyiv, on the morning of 24 August.

This port serves as a crucial hub for Russia to bypass Western sanctions while exporting oil, gas, and coal that generate revenue for military operations. 

The attack resulted in debris causing a fire at a NOVATEK terminal, with Drozdenko stating that “firefighters and emergency services are working to extinguish the fire.”

A specialized fire train carrying over 183 tons of water and 5 tons of foam concentrate was dispatched to assist in firefighting operations, according to the October Railway company.

Oil refinery producing resources for Russian war effort faces repeated strikes

The Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, over 1700 km away from Kyiv, came under drone attack, with local residents reporting approximately 20 explosions throughout the night.

Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev acknowledged the strike on what he termed “an industrial enterprise facility.”

This marks the fourth attack on the Syzran refinery in 2025, following previous strikes in February, March, and earlier in August.

Drone attack affects civilian flights

The overnight attacks caused significant disruptions to civilian air traffic, with Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg suspending aircraft operations.

The airport operated under imposed restrictions for approximately 18 hours, resulting in dozens of delayed flights and passengers sleeping on mats in terminal areas, according to the facility’s press service.

The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently reported that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions, Tatarstan, and occupied Crimea during the night. Regional authorities reported no casualties from the attacks on both targeted facilities.

[Update as of 11 p.m. on 24 August]

The Ukrainian General Staff officially confirmed the coordinated attack on Ust-Luga port and the Syzran oil refinery.

The targeted Syzran refinery has a design capacity of 8.5 million tons of oil annually, representing approximately 3.08% of Russia’s total oil refining volume, and specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation kerosene supplied directly to Russian occupying forces.

Ukrainian forces also struck a gas condensate fractionation and transshipment unit at the Ust-Luga marine terminal with a capacity of 6.9 million tons of raw materials per year.

The General Staff confirmed that Ust-Luga serves as “one of Russia’s key logistics hubs in the Baltic Sea, actively used for exporting energy resources using the so-called shadow fleet to bypass international sanctions.”

A fire still burns at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery—Rostov Oblast’s only refinery—after it was struck by Ukrainian drones three days ago. The facility ranks among southern Russia’s largest, with a processing capacity of approximately 100,000 barrels per day (about 5 million tonnes annually).

The drone attack at Novoshakhtinsk is one in a recent series targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure. In the past weeks, several major refineries—including Syzran, Volgograd, Novokuibyshevsk, Ryazan, and Saratov—have sustained fires, temporary shutdowns, or capacity reductions following drone and missile strikes.

Fire still rages at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast — hit by Ukrainian drones 3 days ago.

One of southern Russia’s biggest (5M t/yr). Locals face water cuts, toxic air & 4 months unpaid wages — yet workers are still forced in.

Video: exilenova+ pic.twitter.com/0O0oKip5jB

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 23, 2025

Escalating air war and energy disruption

These assaults are part of intensified air campaigns from both sides. Ukraine has increasingly struck petroleum infrastructure—refineries, depots, pipelines—while Russia retaliates with drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, civilian areas, and energy facilities.

As military expert Yigal Levin notes: “Targeting fuel infrastructure is strategic warfare—and it’s taking a heavy toll.”

Civilian hardship: water, air, and wages

Residents in Novoshakhtinsk and surrounding areas are grappling with deteriorating conditions. Water pressure has dropped sharply; some areas, like Krasny Sulin, now lack running water altogether. Air quality has become dangerously poor.

Meanwhile, workers at the refinery are still being required to come to work—despite four months of unpaid wages. Levin succinctly notes: “People are showing up—but their pay never arrives.”

How the strike happened

On the morning of 21 August, Ukrainian long-range “kamikaze” drones pierced local air defenses, despite the refinery being guarded by two Pantsir and one Tor anti-air systems. Residents reported around five explosions, which ignited the blaze.

Why this matters

• Military and economic impact: The refinery is vital for both regional fuel supply and military logistics.
• Humanitarian concerns: Communities face basic service breakdowns amid the emergency.
• Strategic priority: The targeting of energy assets underscores the growing importance of infrastructure in warfare tactics.

A Ukrainian drone strike hit Russia’s Druzhba oil pumping station in Unecha late on 21 August, setting off a major fire. Commander of the Ukrainian Forces of Unmanned Systems (SBS), Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, confirmed the attack and released footage showing flames at the site in Bryansk oblast.

Ukraine drones hit Unecha station again

Brovdi said that operators of the 14th regiment of the Forces of Unmanned Systems carried out the strike. He added the phrase “repair it in 48 hours,” mocking Russia’s attempts to restore the station after the previous hit.

Brovdi, who is ethnic Hungarian, also wrote in Hungarian “Ruszkik haza!” meaning “Russians go home.”

His post included video of the burning facility and described the drones as “birds of the SBS” continuing their “journey through worms’ refineries” — Ukraine has been targeting not oily the pumping stations, but also Russia’s oil refineries.

Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz announced a missile alert in Unecha district on 21 August. By the morning of 22 August, he claimed two fixed-wing drones had been destroyed allegedly with “no casualties or damages.” 

Unecha’s role in Druzhba pipeline

The Unecha pumping station is part of Russia’s 5,500-kilometer Druzhba oil pipeline. The station is owned by the state company Transneft and has the capacity to pump 60 million tons of oil annually. Located in the settlement of Vysokoe in Unecha district, about 60 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, it is crucial for transporting Russian oil to the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga and for supplying Belarus’s Mozyr refinery.

Previous attacks on Druzhba

The Unecha pumping station had already been struck on 12 August, when Ukrainian forces destroyed two pumping stations, a technical building, and nearby equipment. That earlier attack also caused a large fire. The latest strike marks the second hit on the same target within nine days.

On 18 August, Ukraine’s General Staff reported a strike on the Nikolskoye-1 pumping station in Russia’s Tambov oblast, another Druzhba hub. That attack forced Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó to confirm a temporary suspension of Russian oil transit to Hungary, before announcing on 20 August that deliveries had resumed. Szijjártó also claimed that Hungary is Ukraine’s largest supplier of electricity.

Exclusives

Sweden sends Ukraine billions in military aid—and every armored vehicle. Gripen jets? Ask NATO. Stockholm sent tanks, drones, and even its full fleet of armored carriers—everything but the jets Ukraine wanted most.

How did Russians sneak into Kupiansk—and run right into a Ukrainian tank?. Russians slipped deep into Kupiansk, and ran right into an alert Ukrainian tank. It’s not good news for Ukraine.

Military

Ukrainian General Staff confirms refinery strike in Rostov, reports new attacks on drone hub in Donetsk and fuel site in Voronezh

. The military’s announcement expands the known scope of the 21 August attacks.

Ukraine’s commandos struck a moving Russian fuel train in occupied Crimea. Kyiv’s elite troops continue sabotaging Russia’s critical supply chains on occupied soil.

Ukraine strikes another Russian refinery, railway substation, and GRU base in occupied Crimea (video). Occupation authorities in Sevastopol attempted to mask the attack as emergency exercises, drawing public skepticism.

Ukraine releases footage of drone strike on seasoned Russian general with war crime charges. He lost arm and leg. While Ukraine filed charges against Abatchev, documenting his participation in combat operations across multiple Luhansk Oblast settlements, Russia awarded him “Hero” titles.

Russia seeks entire Donbas in exchange for ceasefire promises, Zelenskyy says it would take them four years to occupy it. Zelenskyy stressed that Russian forces have only managed to seize about one-third of Donetsk Oblast since the full-scale invasion began.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine to start mass production of 3,000 km Flamingo missile, Zelenskyy says. The long-range weapon has already completed tests and could enter large-scale manufacturing by early 2026.

International

Militarnyi: Russian drone stayed in Polish airspace for 2.5 hours and was never intercepted. Airspace monitoring suggests it crossed 200 km from Ukraine to a village just 40 km from Warsaw.

After howitzers and a helicopter, Czech campaign now raising funds for five training aircraft for Ukraine. The Gift for Putin campaign has previously crowdfunded D-30 howitzers, a Black Hawk helicopter, anti-tank rocket launchers, explosives and other equipment and matériel for Ukraine.

Trump blames Biden’s policy that allowed Ukraine only to defend itself and not fight back properly

. The US president used a sports analogy of banning offensive plays to criticize Biden’s restrictions of strikes with American weapons, arguing that defensive capabilities alone cannot achieve victory.

Norway creates second brigade in Arctic to monitor border with Russia. Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik called the new Finnmark Brigade “a necessary response to a more uncertain security situation” along the Russian border

Frontline report: Azerbaijan and Armenia were bitter enemies—until Russia made them allies. Once at war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the two states now back a US-brokered corridor plan that sidelines Russia.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian attack on Sumy university burnt 15,000 books — third strike since 2022. The previous attack in April destroyed 45,000 volumes in the university’s congress center and killed 35 people.

Massive Russian air attack hits Ukraine with 574 drones and 40 missiles, including city near Hungarian border

. Kalibr missiles struck an American factory in Mukachevo while other strikes hit residential blocks in Lviv and targeted several more cities.

Political and legal developments

Russia awards Order of Courage to American killed fighting against Ukraine. His mom is CIA official.. The 21-year-old son of CIA deputy director had grown increasingly angry with American policies, moved to Russia, and signed a military contract in 2023. He died in 2024 near Bakhmut.

SBU: Ukraine arrests Russian spy inside marine brigade on active front. He directed strikes on Ukrainian bases. The accused commander leaked geolocations of his own unit to help Russian forces correct their targeting, while simultaneously attempting to recruit other Ukrainian soldiers for Moscow’s intelligence network.

Italy arrests Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream pipeline bombing case. Serhij K.’s arrest in Italy represents a breakthrough in Germany’s two-year investigation into the Nord Stream bombings

Ukraine clears path to sell Sense Bank, Ukrgasbank in first wartime privatizations. Ukraine has finally decided to sell off some state banks, showing reform is advancing even as war grinds on.

Read our earlier daily review here.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Ukrainian drone units struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast overnight on 21 August. It also reported two additional strikes: one on a UAV warehouse and logistics hub in occupied Donetsk, and another on a fuel storage facility in Voronezh Oblast.

Confirmed refinery strike in Rostov Oblast

The General Staff said Ukrainian drone units, operating in coordination with other defense components, struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov Oblast. The facility is one of the largest fuel suppliers in southern Russia and is involved in supporting Russian armed forces. The refinery’s total reservoir capacity exceeds 210,000 cubic meters. Numerous explosions were recorded, and the target was confirmed hit.

Drone warehouse and logistics hub hit in occupied Donetsk

Separately, Ukrainian special operations forces struck a drone storage facility and logistics hub in occupied Donetsk. The strike aimed to reduce the enemy’s capacity to use long-range UAVs. The General Staff confirmed explosions at the site and direct hits.

Fuel base targeted in Voronezh Oblast

In addition, the General Staff reported a strike on a fuel and lubricant storage site used by Russian occupying forces in Voronezh Oblast. The extent of the damage is still being clarified.

More attacks today

Earlier today, the General Staff had also reported an attack on a Russian fuel train in occupied Crimea.

According to media reports, Ukrainian forces struck multiple targets overnight on 20–21 August: the Rostov refinery, a railway substation in Voronezh Oblast, and a GRU base in Crimea. S

Ukraine struck multiple critical Russian targets overnight on 20–21 August, hitting a refinery in Rostov Oblast, a railway power substation in Voronezh Oblast, and a GRU base in occupied Crimea. Satellite data confirmed large fires at several sites, while occupation officials attempted to downplay the incidents.

Ukrainian drones hit refinery and bypass air defense in Rostov Oblast

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that drones struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast. According to the outlet, the facility was protected by two Pantsir and one Tor anti-air systems, which failed to prevent the attack. Local residents reported hearing around five explosions over the city. Russian news Telegram channel Astra confirmed that a fire broke out at the site following the drone strike.

GRU base and helicopter airfield in Sevastopol targeted

In Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukrainian drones struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s military unit #95408 in Sevastopol. Exilenova+ stated that GRU military intelligence forces are currently based there. NASA FIRMS satellite data confirmed fires at the site. Fires were also observed at the nearby Khersones airbase, which hosts Russian helicopters and drones.

Russian-installed occupation authorities claimed the explosions were part of unannounced firefighting drills conducted by the Black Sea Fleet in coordination with emergency services. Astra quoted occupation head Mikhail Razvozhayev, who urged residents to “trust only official information.” However, local social media users mocked the explanation, saying they were being treated “like fools.”

Ukrainian drones disable power substation in Voronezh Oblast

Further north, Ukraine also hit the Zhuravka railway power substation in Voronezh Oblast. Exilenova+ reported this strike, and NASA satellite data confirmed a fire at the location. Astra relayed a statement from the Russian governor, who said that more than five drones were downed over the southern districts of the oblast. He acknowledged that an energy facility had been damaged, leaving several villages without electricity and causing a number of passenger train delays.

Astra later reported that train service was restored after the incident, but highlighted that 19 trains were initially delayed due to the attack. Authorities warned that the threat of further drone strikes remained across the entire oblast.

Russia claims mass drone shoot-downs amid visible damage

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses had shot down 49 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry alleged that 21 drones were intercepted over Rostov Oblast, 7 over Voronezh Oblast, 4 over occupied Crimea, and the rest across other regions including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Orel, Kursk, and Tula oblasts, as well as over the Black Sea.

Moscow adds nuclear spin as narrative deflection

Amid the fallout, Russian authorities claimed that unit #7 at the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant in Voronezh Oblast had been temporarily disconnected from the grid. TASS cited the Rosenergoatom press service, which denied any safety risks.

The claim came shortly after the regional governor’s vague reference to drone strikes on an “energy facility,” suggesting a possible attempt to introduce a nuclear angle to the story. 

A new drone attack on 19 August triggered large fires at a Lukoil oil refinery and another site in Russia’s Volgograd. The local officials claim drone debris caused the fires despite what they described as a “massive” UAV assault being repelled by military forces.

Twin fires break out in Volgograd after drone strike

Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported that explosions were heard in Volgograd overnight on 19 August, followed by a major fire outbreak in the city. Photos began circulating online, allegedly showing a blaze after a drone strike. While Astra shared these images, the outlet noted it could not independently verify the authenticity of the visuals.

In response to the incident, Russia’s aviation agency Rosaviatsia temporarily closed Volgograd’s local airport. No further details were released regarding flight disruptions.

Later the same morning, the Governor of Volgograd Oblast officially confirmed that two separate fires broke out following a drone attack — at the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery and allegedly on a hospital’s rooftop. According to his statement, the fires erupted in southern Volgograd after wreckage from unmanned aerial vehicles ostensibly fell onto key infrastructure sites. He claimed that the Ministry of Defense’s forces were actively repelling a “massive” drone assault targeting the oblast.

Astra stated that the refinery and hospital buildings hit on 19 August are located several kilometers apart.

Lukoil refinery struck for the second or third time in days

The Ukrainian drones had already attacked the same refinery during the night of 14 August, when at least eight drones targeted the Lukoil facility in Volgograd’s Krasnoarmeiskyi District. That earlier strike damaged parts of the plant’s infrastructure, including two pipelines and a primary oil processing unit. As a result, the refinery was forced to halt operations.

Two days later, a major fire erupted again at the facility, but the second drone attack was not confirmed.

A drone attack struck the Komi Republic, located about 2,000 km from Ukraine’s border, marking the first such incident since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. An air raid alert was declared in Ukhta, local officials confirmed.

The strike unfolded just days before a highly anticipated summit scheduled for 15 August in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to explore a ceasefire and potential peace agreement. Trump has openly suggested the discussions may involve “some swapping of territory,” a proposal strongly rejected by Ukraine and its European allies.

Oil refinery targeted

Telegram channels and eyewitnesses said the Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka oil refinery was the target. Residents reported loud explosions, followed by the arrival of fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency crews. One drone reportedly crashed near the plant, but no fires or hazardous emissions were recorded.

Ukraine hits Komi for the first time — 2,000 km from the front.

Drones struck the Lukoil refinery in Ukhta, damaging fuel tanks & a gas unit supplying Russian forces.

Analyst Yan Matveev notes the UAV had long wings, glider-like, clearly built for range. pic.twitter.com/5jdx6NNUUe

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 10, 2025

Evacuations and service disruptions

The Syktyvkar No. 12 channel reported evacuations at the Yarmarka shopping mall and the nearby refinery. Residents in Ukhta and Syktyvkar experienced mobile internet outages, and flights at Ukhta airport were temporarily restricted, according to Rosaviatsiya. Acting Komi head Rostislav Goldstein said no one was injured.

Ukrainian intelligence claims responsibility

RBC-Ukraine, citing sources at Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), reported the attack was part of a special operation against a facility supplying fuel and lubricants to Russian forces. Ukrainian sources said drones hit a fuel storage tank, causing a spill, and damaged a gas-condensate processing unit used for producing propane-butane and gasoline.

Part of a broader strike pattern

Recent days have seen multiple drone attacks deep inside Russia:

• Krasnodar Krai (Afipsky Refinery) – Damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike confirmed on 8 August, targeting a gas-condensate processing unit.
• Saratov Oblast – Explosions and fire at an oil refinery overnight 10 August.

Komi, until now untouched by the war, has become the latest target in a widening campaign of long-range strikes.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff has confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia during a nighttime operation, the military command announced.

“Tonight, the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, struck the Saratov oil refinery (Saratov Oblast, Russia),” the General Staff reported.

According to military officials, the drone strikes resulted in explosions and fire at the facility. The Saratov refinery processes up to 7 million tons of oil annually and serves as a key fuel infrastructure facility supplying petroleum products to occupying forces.

The General Staff said that Ukrainian defense forces continue operations aimed at reducing Russia’s military-economic potential to force an end to its aggression against Ukraine.

“Every targeted facility on the territory of the Russian Federation involved in supporting its criminal war against Ukraine brings us closer to a just peace,” the military command stated.

The attack occurred on the night of 10 August, when drones targeted the refinery in the Russian city of Saratov, triggering a large-scale fire at the facility.

Russian officials reported drone strikes on the Saratov Oblast overnight on 10 August, with a local oil refinery apparently sustaining damage, Governor Roman Busargin said.

The Saratov oil refinery processes up to 7 million tons of crude oil annually, producing vital motor fuels and other petroleum products that supply a significant part of Russia’s domestic market and military needs, having served as a crucial logistics hub since World War II.

The governor confirmed damage at an industrial facility following the drone assault. Busargin claimed debris from a downed drone fell in a residential courtyard, prompting evacuations to a temporary shelter organized at a nearby school. According to the governor’s account, there was one fatality and several injured.

Local residents told the Russian propaganda outlet ASTRA that the Saratov oil refinery came under attack.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 121 drones over Russian Bryansk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Stavropol, Kaluga, Tula, Rostov  and Ryazan oblasts and occupied Crimea during the night.

The Saratov Oblast has faced regular drone attacks. On 1 July, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Defense Forces struck the Saratovgorsintez oil refinery in the Saratov region. Explosions occurred in Saratov and Engels on 5 July, where a Russian airbase is located from which aircraft launch strikes against Ukraine.

Romania is investigating Russia over chlorine-tainted Azerbaijani oil after refinery testing revealed contamination that could have caused severe equipment damage and major fuel shortages. G4Media reports, citing official sources, that the suspected sabotage has disrupted shipments, triggered an official crisis declaration, and raised alarm in Italy and Czechia.

Romania probes suspected Russian sabotage of oil supply

According to G4Media’s official sources, Romanian authorities are examining whether Russia deliberately contaminated Azerbaijani crude intended for OMV Petrom’s Petrobrazi refinery. The oil, transported through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline and shipped onward to Romania, was found to contain chlorine levels high enough to corrode refinery systems. Officials believe such damage could have led to prolonged shutdowns and serious disruption of the country’s fuel supply.

Contamination reaches other European countries

G4Media notes that part of the chlorine-tainted Azerbaijani oil had already reached Italy, where energy company Eni confirmed contamination in one of its refineries, according to Reuters. The Czech company Orlen Unipetrol, which was also due to process the batch, halted all operations involving the shipment.

Sources cited by G4Media say the contamination could have been carried out through a relatively simple sabotage operation along the 1,770 km pipeline route. The suspected method involved injecting several tankloads of chlorine into the crude stream during transit, a step that could have been executed without major technical obstacles.

Wider European energy risks

The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline operator BTC Co., managed by BP, acknowledged being informed of possible quality issues linked to organic chlorides in some loads of its crude mix. BTC Co. stated it is assessing oil quality at all facilities along the route. Organic chlorides are sometimes used in oil extraction but must be removed before pipeline transport, as they can cause severe corrosion to refinery equipment.

Similar contamination incidents have had serious market impacts in the past. In 2019, Russian oil exports via the Druzhba pipeline were halted after high levels of chlorides were detected, forcing buyers to seek alternative supplies at short notice.

Strategic response and ongoing investigation

Romania’s emergency release of fuel stocks is intended to cover domestic demand until uncontaminated shipments arrive. G4Media reports that swift action by the Ministry of Energy helped avert immediate shortages, but concerns remain over the spread of contaminated crude in storage tanks and processing units across Europe.

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A Ukrainian drone attack on Russian infrastructure overnight on 7 August sparked fires at an oil refinery, a military base, and railway stations in separate regions of southern Russia. The strikes, confirmed by regional authorities and local footage, were part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to dismantle Russian military logistics, including fuel supply and transport nodes.

Refinery blaze at Afipsky in Krasnodar Krai

In Krasnodar Krai, a large fire erupted at the Afipsky oil refinery following a drone strike. Local residents shared videos of the blaze on Telegram, published by Exilenova+ and Russian news Telegram channel Astra. Authorities confirmed that flames engulfed the gas and gas condensate processing unit at the refinery. According to the Krasnodar governor, the fire was extinguished by 8:30 in the morning.

This was at least the fourth confirmed strike on the Afipsky refinery since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. In December 2023, an explosion damaged a fuel oil distillation unit at the same site. The refinery processes around 6–7 million tons of oil annually and plays a key role in supplying diesel fuel to Russia’s military and economy.

Military unit fire in Slavyansk-na-Kubani

Another major fire was reported at a military installation in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, also in Krasnodar Krai. Exilenova+ and Astra published video evidence from locals indicating that the fire broke out at military unit 61661 after it was hit by drones overnight.

No official casualty reports were released, but the footage showed a sustained fire on the grounds of the base. The extent of the damage remains unclear.

Ukrainian OSINT Telegram Cyberboroshno channel geoconfirmed the location of the strike, featured in the footage.

“As a result of the drone attack, fuel and lubricants were hit at the site of the 76th Separate Repair and Recovery Battalion in the settlement of Slavyansk-na-Kubani,” Cyberboroshno wrote. 

Port of Novorossiysk targeted by naval drones

In the port city of Novorossiysk, sirens sounded along the shoreline during an attempted naval drone strike. According to Astra, the mayor confirmed the attack and described the situation as an ongoing defense operation against unmanned surface vessels.

Novorossiysk hosts a key fuel terminal. The impact of the attempted strike is not known at the time of publication.

Volgograd rail infrastructure hit by long-range drones

In Volgograd Oblast, long-range Ukrainian drones hit two railway stations overnight. Videos posted by Exilenova+, Krymsky Veter, and Astra showed large flames at the site.

The oblast’s governor confirmed the attacks and said that fires broke out at the Surovikino station, while explosives experts were dealing with drone debris at the Maksima Gorkogo station. At Surovikino, a blaze engulfed an administrative building. The governor claimed there was no damage to railway infrastructure and that train movement continued “as normal.” 

Russian Telegram channel Astra also published images from the Surovikino area and cited eyewitness reports confirming the fires. At Maksima Gorkogo, sappers were dispatched to examine drone debris.

Russia claims it intercepted dozens of drones

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated it had downed 82 Ukrainian drones across several regions and occupied Crimea during the night. The claimed breakdown included 31 over the Sea of Azov, 11 over Crimea, 10 over Rostov Oblast, 9 over Krasnodar Krai, and smaller numbers in Volgograd, Belgorod, Kursk, and Oryol oblasts.