In a significant escalation of hostilities, Ukrainian drones targeted a major oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region for the second time in nearly three months, according to a statement from Ukraine’s general staff on Thursday. The refinery, a critical facility in Russia’s Southern Federal District, processes over 15 million tons of crude annually, accounting for approximately 5.6% of the nation’s total refining capacity. While Russian officials did not confirm the attack, the local governor reported a fire at an unspecified industrial site in the region.
The strike, which occurred on Wednesday, underscores the intensifying energy warfare between the two nations. Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian oil infrastructure aims to disrupt Moscow’s oil export revenue, a vital source of funding for its ongoing invasion. Conversely, Russia has focused on crippling Ukraine’s power grid, leaving civilians without heat, light, and running water—a tactic Kyiv officials describe as ‘weaponizing winter.’
In addition to the Volgograd refinery, Ukrainian forces struck three fuel lubricant facilities in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and a storage base for Russia’s Shahed drones in the Donetsk region. Meanwhile, in the Kostroma region northeast of Moscow, a Ukrainian aerial attack reportedly targeted energy infrastructure, though no casualties or power disruptions were reported. Unconfirmed media sources suggest the attack may have hit one of Russia’s largest hydroelectric power plants.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 75 drones overnight across multiple regions, including annexed Crimea. On the other side, Russia launched drone attacks on Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, injuring eight people and causing structural damage to a four-story building. The Russian military also continued its assault on Ukraine’s rail infrastructure, disrupting transportation in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the relentless attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, emphasizing the efforts of repair crews and international support to restore essential services. As the conflict nears its fourth year, diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. have failed to curb the violence, with both sides locked in a cycle of reciprocal strikes on critical infrastructure.