Ukraine Drone Campaign Disables 20% of Russian Refining Capacity

Ukraine has intensified a long-range drone campaign targeting Russia's energy infrastructure, disabling an estimated 17% to 21% of the country's total refining capacity. Between September 12 and 20, 2025, Ukrainian forces struck several major facilities, including the Kirishi, Saratov, and Novokuybyshevsk refineries, as well as the Primorsk oil terminal. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) specifically targeted the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat plant in Bashkortostan, marking one of the deepest incursions into Russian territory. These strikes have triggered nationwide fuel shortages, a 25% increase in fuel prices, and forced the Russian government to ban gasoline exports to stabilize domestic supplies.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized these operations as the most effective sanctions to degrade Russia's ability to fund its war effort. To counter the drones, Russia implemented widespread internet shutdowns in 40 regions and ramped up production of Geran-2 drones at a secretive facility in Tatarstan. Russia responded with its own aerial bombardments, launching waves of drones against Ukrainian regions including Kyiv, Poltava, and Chernihiv, which damaged railway infrastructure and civilian buildings.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for diplomacy and held a summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the conflict has escalated. Russia is now utilizing teenagers as young as 15 for drone production, while Ukraine is developing AI-driven interceptor drones with UK technical support. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has proposed reducing the national budget's dependence on oil and gas revenues by 2030 to mitigate the economic impact of the strikes.