Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Terminals and Military Air Bases

Ukraine intensified a 40-day strategic campaign against Russian energy and military infrastructure through June and early July 2026. Utilizing FP-1 drones and Flamingo missiles, Volodymyr Zelenskiy authorized strikes on 11 oil refineries, seven fuel logistics facilities, and eight military-industrial enterprises. These operations targeted critical sites including the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, one of Russia's largest fuel storage and export hubs.

On July 2 and 3, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeted the Nizhny Novgorod Oil Refinery and aviation hubs in Crimea, specifically the Saki and Gvardiyske air bases, where at least seven Russian fighter jets were destroyed. Further strikes on July 4 hit the port of Vysotsk and a military target in Kronstadt. Russian defense systems intercepted over 100 drones across the Leningrad and Pskov regions during the latest wave of attacks.

The campaign has caused widespread fuel shortages affecting approximately two-thirds of Russian regions. In occupied Crimea, officials warned that large volumes of fuel would remain unavailable for sale. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes are creating infrastructure problems, though he maintained the shortages are not critical. The destruction of specialized catalytic cracking units, which are difficult to replace due to international sanctions, has forced Russia to increase its dependence on gasoline imports from India.