Russian Oil Exports Keep Falling as Ukraine Drones Hit Key Terminal

Russian crude shipments have fallen for five consecutive weeks, with the key Novorossiysk oil terminal—a vital hub for Russian and Kazakh crude—completely halted, according to shipping data [221727]. The repeated interruptions signal growing vulnerability in Russia’s energy logistics network as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt operations at one of its most important Black Sea outlets [221727]. Traders have been forced to reroute supplies, raising concerns about delivery delays to global buyers, though overall export volumes have not collapsed [221727].

The attacks on Novorossiysk are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign against Russian infrastructure far from the front lines. In a separate major operation, Ukraine struck four Russian warships in a single night at the same port, including two frigates equipped to carry Kalibr cruise missiles, one missile ship, and one patrol vessel [218091]. The strike marked one of the most significant Ukrainian attacks on Russian naval assets in a single engagement, potentially weakening Russia’s ability to launch long-range missile strikes from the sea [218091].

The escalating cross-border exchanges have also hit civilian infrastructure on both sides. Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia, striking a major Wildberries warehouse—one of Russia’s biggest online retailers—forcing workers to evacuate and disrupting deliveries across the region [220739]. Ukrainian officials said the drone strikes were aimed at military and logistics hubs, while Russia’s defense ministry claimed it intercepted most of the drones but did not comment on the warehouse damage [220739].

Economists warn the Wildberries strikes could hit Russia’s civilian economy far harder than the battlefield. The company, often called “Russia’s Amazon,” stores and ships goods used by the Russian military, including uniforms, radios, and medical supplies, but also serves as a vital part of Russia’s domestic trade [221367]. When a warehouse burns, thousands of orders are lost, sellers lose income, and consumers face delays or empty shelves [221367]. Each strike makes the network less reliable, weakening public confidence in the economy [221367].

Meanwhile, Russia continues its own strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz 13 times in the past week, causing serious damage to equipment and production capacity [220801]. Since the start of the year, Russian forces have targeted its premises nearly 300 times [220801]. Russian drones and missiles also hit facilities in several regions, with one asset struck multiple times during the week [220801].

Both sides are expanding aerial campaigns as troops remain largely stalled along the 1,250-kilometer front line [220801]. Ukraine has increased its domestic weapons production since the 2022 invasion, firing more than 800 long-range drones at Russia in a single day [220801]. Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia killed seven people overnight, while four civilians died in Ukraine from Russian strikes, officials said Monday [220801].

The United Nations says nearly 17,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, with 437 Ukrainian civilians dying in July alone—70% more than in the same month in 2025 [220801].