Ukraine widened its long-range campaign with strikes on Russian refineries as Crimea’s fuel crunch deepened, prompting export reviews and new retail fuel limits in parts of Russia.
Russian-installed authorities in Crimea had already declared a state of emergency over a fuel and energy crisis, and Ukraine’s widening drone campaign is adding pressure across Russia’s energy system. Overnight strikes set fire to a major refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani in the Krasnodar region, where falling debris killed one person and wounded another, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a second refinery in the Yaroslavl region was also hit. The latest attacks come as Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes on Russian military industries, refineries and supply routes, a strategy it says is meant to cut revenue and fuel available for Moscow’s war effort. Russian officials said Crimea had suspended gasoline sales to civilians after attacks on supply routes triggered its worst energy crisis since the 2014 annexation, while Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was reviewing fuel export agreements to protect domestic needs. Fuel sales were also being restricted in the Irkutsk region, and private gas station networks in Siberia cited supply disruptions. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 213 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 142 long-range strike drones and eight missiles, of which 125 drones and seven missiles were intercepted.