Ukraine's Drone Blitz Hits Moscow's Largest Oil Refinery 15 KM From Kremlin, Sparking Gas Crisis Across 25 Regions

Ukraine has escalated its campaign to cripple Russia's fuel supply, hitting strategic targets deep inside the country. On Wednesday, a drone attack bypassed Moscow's concentrated air defenses to strike the capital's largest oil refinery, a facility that accounts for 53% of the plant's primary refining capacity. [174374][174537] Two industry sources told Reuters the strike halted operations at the plant, which is the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region. [174537] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the refinery was hit from 500 kilometers away, calling it "a just response to Russian strikes." [174537]

The attacks have caused severe fuel shortages that now span over 25 Russian regions. [174373] Filling stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg are running dry, drivers face gasoline limits, airlines are cutting jet-fuel use, and farmers cannot get enough diesel. [174373] In Crimea, the illegally annexed Ukrainian peninsula, authorities have imposed a limit of 20 liters (5.3 gallons) of fuel per car at petrol stations, with long queues of motorists visible. [174537]

In a separate strike, Ukrainian drones hit the Kombinat Temp fuel depot in Rybinsk, which belongs to Rosrezerv—the state agency that hoards fuel reserves for national emergencies. [172750] The same night, a drone attack targeted a chemical plant in Tula Oblast linked to explosives production. [172750] Ukrainian officials confirmed the strikes aim to cut off fuel and material supplies for Russia's war effort. [172750]

To cope with the growing shortage, Russia has quietly relaxed fuel quality rules, allowing refineries to sell gasoline with sulfur levels up to 15 times higher than the European Union limit. [174368] The lower-grade fuel, known as Euro-3, was previously banned for most uses. [174368]

In Crimea, Russian-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov banned riding moped scooters, quad bikes, and motorcycles from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., claiming the vehicles sound like drone attacks and "hamper the work of defense systems." [174537] Adviser Oleg Kryuchkov wrote on Telegram that "the enemy is recruiting your children for night-time rides." [174537]

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces struck the Chonhar bridge, a critical supply route, aiming to cut fuel deliveries to Russia's 37th brigade. [174366] Days after the strike, the commander of a Russian battalion unit died by suicide, with Ukrainian officials claiming Russian command pressured him to carry out combat tasks under difficult conditions. [174366]

At the G7 summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new sanctions targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and energy revenues. [174369] The European Union also declared Russia's attack on an ancient monastery in Kyiv a war crime and sanctioned two Chinese companies that supply components for drones. [174375] U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the U.S. could soon reinstate sanctions on Russian oil shipments, saying "the oil is now flowing. We're in a position to do that soon." [174537]