In the early hours of 7 September 2025, Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated series of deep strikes on Russian territory, targeting two of the most strategically important fuel infrastructure sites — the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the 8-N pipeline pumping station near the village of Naitopovichi in Bryansk Oblast.

Strategic Druzhba pipeline hub hit for second time

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a precision drone strike targeted the 8-N linear production dispatching station (LPDS) near Naitopovichi village located in Unecha District, Bryansk Oblast. The site is linked to Russia’s Druzhba — a pipeline network used to export oil.

The Naitopovichi-based station is part of the “Steel Horse” mainline pipeline complex, with a pumping capacity of 10.5 million tons per year.

The Ukrainian military described the facility as having “strategic importance for the transportation of oil products for the Russian occupation army.” They reported multiple direct hits, followed by fires in the area of the pumping station and tank park.

Commander of the Armed Forces’ Drone Systems, Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), also confirmed the strike, noting that the 8-N facility plays a key role in transferring petroleum products from Belarus’s Mozyr and Novopolotsk refineries into Russia.

Brovdi shared aerial footage showing a fire at the facility, and emphasized that the strike was part of a broader campaign against Russian oil infrastructure and hinted at more operations to come: “To be continued…”

This marks the second confirmed Ukrainian strike on the 8-N station. On 29 August, Ukrainian forces had already attacked the same facility. As Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported at the time, the previous strike had resulted in the total destruction of the station’s pump house — a critical component without which oil cannot be transported.

Previous strikes on Russian oil pumping stations temporarily disrupted Russian pipeline oil exports, but the damaged facilities later resumed operations.

Ilsky oil refinery set ablaze — again

On the same night, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Seversky District, Krasnodar Krai, the General Staff confirmed. Ilsky is located around 30 kilometers from Krasnodar.

Astra cited the Krasnodar regional operational headquarters, reporting that “drone debris fell on the territory of the Ilsky refinery” — the standard Russian official wording for all successful Ukrainian attacks. The strike caused one of the refinery’s technological installations to catch fire, according to the report. Officials claimed that the fire, which allegedly covered only several square meters, was quickly extinguished and that there were no casualties. Emergency response and special services were deployed, and refinery personnel were evacuated to shelters.

Footage of the fire at the refinery grounds, published online by Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+, showed visible flames in the industrial area definitely more than “several square meters” in size.

This was not the first time Ukrainian drones targeted the Ilsky refinery. Earlier strikes took place in February and July this year, as well as in 2023 and 2024. Previous operations have triggered significant fires, including a major one in February. According to Militarnyi and Suspilne, the July attack was reportedly conducted by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).

Ukrainian forces also strike Russian troop sites in Kursk Oblast

In addition to the fuel infrastructure strikes, Ukrainian forces confirmed hits on Russian military personnel sites and logistics warehouses in Kursk Oblast. The General Staff reported “successful hits” on locations housing Russian troops and storing matériel.

The Ukrainian military said these attacks are part of a larger strategy “to reduce the offensive potential of the Russian occupiers and complicate the delivery of fuel and ammunition to the enemy’s military units.”

Russia claims 69 drones shot down

In response to the overnight strikes, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 69 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including 21 over Krasnodar Krai, 13 over Voronezh Oblast, and others in Astrakhan, Belgorod, Volgograd, and Kursk oblasts, as well as Crimea.

The recent Ukrainian drone strikes have forced Russia’s Ust-Luga oil export terminal on the Baltic Sea coast to cut operations by half for September, Reuters reports. The disruption follows earlier drone attacks on pipeline infrastructure, and has triggered emergency rerouting of crude exports to other ports.

Damage affects flows to key terminal

Two industry sources told Reuters that Ust-Luga will operate at about 350,000 barrels per day—roughly half its normal capacity. The slowdown comes after Ukrainian drone strikes earlier in August targeted the Unecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Unecha is a crucial node in the pipeline system that feeds Ust-Luga and is also linked to the Druzhba pipeline.

The drone attacks have affected crude flows not only to Ust-Luga but also through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary. Slovakia said on 28 August that initial supplies via the Druzhba line had resumed in test mode.

Crude redirected as repair work begins

The Reuters sources did not clarify which pipeline was damaged but said that repair work was underway. However, there is no clear timeline for when full capacity at Ust-Luga will be restored. To limit export losses, oil volumes are being redirected to Russia’s Primorsk and Novorossiisk ports.

Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár warned that Ukrainian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline could backfire against Ukraine itself, potentially cutting off diesel supplies that account for 10% of the country’s monthly fuel consumption.

Speaking on political program Politika 24 on 24 August, Blanár revealed he had discussed the issue by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. The Slovak minister emphasized that the Slovnaft refinery, which processes Russian oil transported through the pipeline, serves as a major diesel supplier to Ukraine.

“We understand that this is difficult for Ukraine, but this infrastructure is very important for us, especially when we see that Ukraine itself is harming its own interests because it risks not having enough fuel on its side,” Blanár stated. “Our national interest is to protect these supplies, and therefore we communicate openly with the Ukrainian side.”

The minister said Sybiha acknowledged this information and would communicate it further within the Ukrainian government.

Blanár announced he would continue discussions on the European level and in a video call with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister scheduled for 25 August.

The Slovak Foreign Minister referenced a January European Union statement defining energy supply infrastructure integrity as “indivisible” for the bloc. The statement called on all third parties, including Ukraine and Russia, to respect this principle, with the European Commission pledging to take measures if violations occur.

On Friday, Slovakia and Hungary sent a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, demanding immediate action to ensure energy supply security commitments to EU member states are honored.

“I don’t want to escalate this situation with my statements today. First and foremost, I call for a pragmatic approach,” Blanár said. “Even though I know this is painful for Ukraine, because a few days ago one significant refinery that supplies Ukraine with products was bombed. But it is necessary that we protect our interests.”

The minister expressed hope that US President Donald Trump’s initiative could lead to peace negotiations and end the war in Ukraine. He noted that attacks on energy infrastructure from both sides have increased despite ongoing peace talks.

“We perceive that these attacks, despite ongoing peace negotiations, are increasing and have an impact on critical infrastructure on which we depend as the Slovak Republic, as well as Hungary,” Blanár explained.

According to reports from Ukrainian outlet Teraz and hromadske, the controversy stems from three separate Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline’s distribution stations in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast.

The first attack occurred on 13 August, when Hungary accused Ukraine of targeting a distribution station that plays a “key role” in Hungary’s energy security. A hromadske intelligence source confirmed the strike caused a fire at a facility involved in supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reported a second attack on 18 August, which disrupted oil supplies for one day. A third attack on 22 August again halted Russian oil deliveries through the pipeline.

The Druzhba pipeline carries Russian crude oil to Slovakia and Hungary, both EU members that have maintained exemptions from broader European sanctions on Russian energy imports. The pipeline supplies the Slovnaft refinery, which then processes the crude into various petroleum products, including the diesel fuel that Ukraine imports.

Hungary and Slovakia’s joint appeal to EU leadership represents an escalation in diplomatic pressure over the pipeline attacks. Both countries argue that Ukraine’s targeting of the infrastructure violates EU principles while simultaneously undermining Ukraine’s own energy security needs.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) struck on June 28 the 1060th Material-Technical Support Center in the city of Bryansk, Ukraine's General Staff said.

The facilities store a Russian missile and drone arsenal, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source in HUR.

Local residents reported hearing explosions and gun fire throughout the morning of June 28. Pictures posted on social media show smoke billowing from the area of where the centre, formerly the the 120th arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, is located in an industrial area in the southern part of the city.

The General Staff said it was assessing the strike as extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz acknowledged a drone attack on the region overnight claiming that four civilians were injured in the attack, damaging ten homes and a vehicle.

Later in the morning, Bogomaz claimed that all the drones had been downed by Russian air defense unit in a separate attack, claiming that no damage had been inflicted. He did not mention the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate in his comments.

The Kyiv Independent cannot immediately verify the reports or claims made by Russian officials.

Bryansk Oblast, located in Russia's far-west, borders Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy Oblast, and has been the target of various Ukrainian strikes.

Ukraine's military regularly conducts strikes onto Russian and Russian-occupied territory.

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea overnight on June 28, the SBU told the Kyiv Independent. The attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, and a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the SBU claimed.

Ukrainian drone strike on Crimea air base destroys 3 Russian helicopters, SBU claims

The attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, and a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova