Ukrainian drones targeted Russian oil facilities and set two oil tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov on Thursday. This escalation in attacks follows a pledge from U.S. President Donald Trump to grant Ukraine a license for manufacturing Patriot air defense systems.
The strikes on Russian oil infrastructure have reportedly led to a fuel crisis across multiple regions, with shortages and rationing causing long queues at gas stations.
In Tver, the acting governor reported a drone strike ignited a fire at an oil depot. Similarly, in the Stavropol region, Ukrainian drones set oil reservoirs ablaze, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from nearby apartment buildings. The governor of Rostov stated that two oil tankers in the Sea of Azov were also targeted, with one still burning and crews evacuated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized these strikes as "long-range sanctions" in retaliation for Russian attacks and Moscow's continued prosecution of the war. He stated that in addition to the oil facilities in Stavropol and Tver, Ukrainian forces also struck a reserve fuel storage facility approximately 800 kilometers from the front line and an oil-pumping station in Ufa, nearly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine's border. An oil-loading terminal in the Rostov region, about 200 kilometers from the front line, was also reportedly hit.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses downed 73 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Conversely, Ukraine's Air Force stated that Russia launched 94 long-range strike drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, with 72 drones being jammed or intercepted, and 19 drones and both missiles causing damage at 13 locations.
Earlier in the week, President Trump met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit. During their meeting, Trump indicated that the U.S. would issue a license for Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems, a significant development for Kyiv, which has sought such technology to counter Russian missile attacks. This marks a shift in tone from a previous tense encounter between the leaders in February 2025.