Ukraine has sharply increased drone strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure in 2026, targeting twice as many oil refineries as during the same period last year, according to data compiled from statements by Russian officials. The attacks form part of Kyiv’s broader strategy to weaken Moscow’s wartime economy as the conflict enters its fifth year.
The strikes, carried out across multiple regions of Russia, have hit refineries, pipelines and storage facilities, disrupting crude processing capacity and reducing fuel exports. Analysts say the campaign is squeezing a key source of Kremlin revenue, with oil and gas taxes contributing around a quarter of Russia’s federal budget income.
Reuters calculations indicate attacks disrupted roughly 700,000 barrels per day of refining capacity between January and May, affecting 16 refineries, while more than 40 shutdowns of major processing units have been linked to external impacts this year.
Major facilities in Kirishi, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm and Tuapse were among the sites struck. In March and April alone, damaged primary refining capacity exceeded 1 million barrels per day.
The pressure appears to be limiting Russia’s ability to benefit from higher global energy prices triggered by the Iran conflict. The Paris-based International Energy Agency reported Russia’s crude production fell by 460,000 barrels per day in April from a year earlier to about 8.8 million barrels daily, while oil product exports dropped to a record low of 2.2 million barrels per day.