Ukrainian aerial drones have launched a series of coordinated attacks on several Russian energy facilities, triggering large blazes at fuel depots and setting two oil tankers alight in the Sea of Azov. The intensified campaign against Moscow’s energy infrastructure comes immediately after US President Donald Trump announced that Kyiv would be granted a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems.
Kyiv has consistently scaled up its strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries, fuel storage operations, and energy networks. The strikes have begun to have a noticeable impact on domestic supplies, leading to fuel shortages and rationing across several Russian provinces. Local reports indicate that motorist queues have grown significantly at petrol stations as drivers face lengthy waits to refuel their vehicles.
In western Russia, an overnight drone strike caused a major fire at an oil repository in the city of Tver, according to statements from acting regional governor Vitaly Korolyov. Concurrently, a separate strike targeted the southern Stavropol territory. Regional Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed that oil storage units caught fire in Vyazniki, forcing emergency services to evacuate residents from neighbouring flats as the flames spread.
Maritime fuel transport also suffered heavy disruption. In the Sea of Azov, remote-controlled drones struck two oil tankers, according to Rostov Governor Yuri Slusar. Whilst rescuers successfully saved the crews of both vessels, one ship remained ablaze hours after the impact. The maritime operation represents the latest effort by Ukrainian forces to disrupt the logistics networks supplying fuel to Russian-occupied Crimea.
Military officials from both nations reported high operational activity. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that its air defence networks successfully intercepted 73 Ukrainian drones during the Wednesday night and Thursday morning period. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 94 long-range strike drones alongside two ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defences reportedly downed or electronically jammed 72 drones, but 19 unmanned aircraft and both missiles breached the defences, inflicting damage across 13 distinct locations.
The escalation followed a high-profile meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the fringes of the NATO summit in Turkey. Speaking after the talks, Trump confirmed that the United States would allow Ukraine to assemble Patriot air defence equipment domestically. The capability has been a long-standing priority for Kyiv as it looks to shield its cities from persistent missile bombardment.
The interaction reflected a notable shift from the more friction-filled discussions observed during Zelenskyy's visit to the White House in February 2025. On this occasion, Trump commended the Ukrainian president for his diplomatic approach to resolving the conflict, noting that the leader had performed exceptionally well and proven highly capable under pressure.
