Ukraine's drone warfare has ignited two significant oil refineries in Russia, as Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged a fuel shortage in the country for the first time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Sunday that the nation struck two more Russian oil refineries in the Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions, calling the long-range attacks a way to weaken Russia's war resources and move closer to peace.
Putin later revealed that Ukraine had proposed a halt to deep strikes, attributing this to the severe impact of Russia's strikes on Ukrainian territory.
While addressing the 23rd United Russia party congress on Sunday, the President announced plans to increase the production of air defense systems to counter Ukrainian attacks. He also disclosed plans to import more fuel and expedite repair work at oil facilities to address the "temporary deficit," reported the Associated Press.
The Russian President pledged to quickly tackle fuel shortages in Crimea by boosting land and sea deliveries, while Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia is reviewing fuel exports to prioritize domestic supply.
Putin acknowledged that Russia is "going through a difficult period," but despite the challenging times, he assured that Moscow would meet all its social obligations.
At the time of writing, Brent crude oil price was trading 0.85% higher at $72.73 per barrel, while the WTI crude futures were trading 1.20% up at $70.03 per barrel.
G7 Backs Ukraine, Steps Up Pressure On Russia
The recent attack on Russia's oil infrastructure comes amid the backdrop of the G7 nations pledging unwavering support for Ukraine.
Earlier this month, G7 leaders, including President Donald Trump, pledged to boost military aid to Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia's energy sector, while Trump signaled he may reinstate suspended sanctions on Russian oil.
Ukraine has significantly increased long-range attacks on Russian military industries, energy infrastructure, and targets in Crimea to undermine Moscow's war effort and isolate the peninsula. In May, a Ukrainian drone attack also sparked a fire at a major oil terminal in Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The strikes have disrupted Russia's fuel supplies, leading to widespread shortages, long lines at gas stations, and fuel rationing in several regions.
On the other hand, Russia has accused the U.S. of not upholding commitments made during last year's summit between Putin and Trump, suggesting it used the talks to give Ukraine time to bolster its military. Despite the criticism, Moscow said it remains committed to continuing dialogue with Washington.
Meanwhile, Ukraine says its homegrown battlefield software, Delta, now matches American defense tech giant Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)'s capabilities and is increasingly replacing it in drone and infantry operations. While praising Palantir CEO Alex Karp for his early support, Ukraine's defense minister said both systems remain in use, with Delta taking on a growing role.
