Ukraine has significantly intensified its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months, leading to widespread fuel shortages and price hikes across parts of Russia, according to investigations by BBC Verify and BBC Russian. Since January, 21 of Russia’s 38 major refineries—facilities crucial for converting crude oil into petrol and diesel—have been targeted, marking a 48% increase in successful strikes compared to the entirety of 2024. The surge in attacks, particularly in August and September, has disrupted operations at key refineries, including those deep within Russian territory, such as the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan, over 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine’s border. Satellite imagery confirmed significant damage, with smoke billowing from the facility post-attack. The strikes have not only impacted civilian fuel supplies but also targeted refineries near the border that support military logistics. Verified footage shows long queues at petrol stations, with some independent stations in Siberia suspending operations to avoid losses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the strategic importance of these strikes, stating that damaging Russia’s oil industry is a key tactic to force Moscow to negotiate. While the Kremlin insists the situation is under control, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak extended a partial ban on petrol exports until the end of 2025, a move critics argue is insufficient to stabilize the domestic market. Analysts suggest that while the strikes alone may not cripple Russia’s war efforts, they are increasing the economic strain of the prolonged conflict.