Russian oil facilities and military airfield targeted and struck by Ukraine, according to Ukraine's reports
Ukraine's military has been using long-range kamikaze drones to attack Russian military airfields and oil infrastructure since 2022. These drones, capable of carrying explosive warheads for hundreds of kilometres, have reportedly caused damage to fighter jets and disrupted Russia's fuel and logistics capabilities.
On a recent note, Ukraine's military claimed to have struck a major oil refinery in Ryazan, approximately 110 miles southeast of Moscow. While Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield report, a fire was reported at the struck oil refinery. Ukraine's military also claimed to have hit the Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility in the Voronezh region.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces specialize in drone warfare, including long-range strikes. The methods used by Ukraine to hit these facilities were not specified in the report. However, it is clear that Ukraine's drone operations include attacks on industrial and military infrastructure, including refineries and airfields.
In addition, Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency claimed to have hit a factory in Penza that supplies Russia's military-industrial complex with electronics. The specific impact of these strikes on Russia's infrastructure is not detailed in the report. Russia's defence ministry reported downing a total of 338 Ukrainian drones overnight, without specifying the number launched at any given time.
Ukraine's military reported downing 45 of 53 Russian drones launched towards its territory overnight. As of the report, there was no immediate comment from Russia on the reported attacks on its infrastructure sites.
These drone strikes are a part of Ukraine’s broader drone warfare strategy, which has become vital in offsetting Russia’s conventional military advantage by targeting tanks, artillery, supply lines, and military infrastructure deep inside Russian-held territories and Russia itself. While there is no direct public record specifically naming an "electronics factory" hit by Ukrainian drones in 2022 from the sources retrieved, Ukraine’s drone operations clearly include attacks on industrial and military infrastructure including refineries and airfields.
In summary, Ukrainian military use of drones against Russian oil facilities, military airfields, and industrial targets has been a documented and evolving tactic since 2022, with continued strikes reported into 2025.
- The ongoing approach of Ukraine's military involves targeting both military and industrial infrastructure, as evidenced by the strikes on Ryazan's oil refinery, Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility, and the electronics factory in Penza.
- The finance sector might be indirectly affected by these drone attacks, considering the potential disruption in oil production and supply chain operations on fuel and logistics capabilities in Russia.
- The energy industry, specifically the oil-and-gas sector, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine, leading to the creation of a notable 'war-and-conflicts' narrative around their drone strikes deep within Russian territories, and this issue extends beyond general news and politics.
