Ukraine Drone Strikes Target Russian Oil Infrastructure and Terminals

The Security Service of Ukraine coordinated a series of deep-strike drone attacks against Russian oil infrastructure, targeting facilities used for extraction, refining, and export. Key operations included strikes on the Tuapse Oil Refinery—Russia's only refinery on the Black Sea coast—and the Tuapse seaport oil terminal, where fires ignited in fuel tanks. Other targets included the Ust-Luga terminal on the Baltic Sea and a pumping station in the Perm region, some located over 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that these attacks have cost Russia at least $7 billion since the start of the year. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that its deep-strike capabilities have doubled in range since February 2022. These operations aim to systematically dismantle Russia's economic engine by targeting the facilities that generate petrodollar revenue.

In Tuapse, the strikes caused oil spills in the Black Sea and toxic benzene levels in the air. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the environmental consequences of the attacks while asserting the situation remains under control. Despite these strikes, the International Energy Agency reported that Russian crude and oil product exports rose to 7.1 million barrels per day in March, aided by a global energy crisis following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which drove up oil prices.