From April through August, Ukraine ran a systematic dismantling of the Russian refining infrastructure that funds the invasion, striking at least two thirds of the 36 major refineries tracked by S&P Global Energy at an average pace of one strike every three days.
What Ukraine Actually Targets
The analysis breaks down 54 strikes. More than half damaged desalting and distillation units. Over a third likely hit nearby secondary processing units, the equipment that turns distillation products into gasoline, jet fuel, and liquefied gas.
A battalion commander from Ukraine's 1st Unmanned Systems Center, call sign Tango, said: we hit the most important parts of the refinery. We can leave the whole plant standing. We know where to hit so it stops and cannot recover.
Precision over volume. The target is somewhere other than the fence or the parking lot. The irreplaceable core.
Sanctions Do the Follow-Up Work
The day after Russia's full-scale invasion, the European Union banned exports to Russia of equipment for atmospheric-vacuum distillation and secondary processing. Days later, the United States restricted export licenses for the same components.
That means every damaged unit stays damaged longer. Moscow cannot simply order replacement parts from Western suppliers. The strikes break the machinery. The sanctions make sure it stays broken.
The Scale of the Damage
By the end of August, S&P Global Energy calculated that half of Russia's refining capacity was offline, more than double the level at the end of 2025. In early August, refined product exports had fallen by half compared to the same period in 2025.
Russia withstands these strikes. It is losing the ability to process its own oil, export finished fuel, and convert energy revenue into weapons.
How the Strikes Get Through
Ukrainian forces have doubled the number of drones and decoy drones in each wave since last year. One participant in the deep-strike campaign said success depends on decoys. Without them, you simply lose expensive systems.
Allied intelligence helps planners exploit gaps in Russian air defense. A European security official said American intelligence on the precise locations of Russian air defense systems and radars was decisive for routing drones around detection. Ukraine also uses high-altitude balloons for some deep strikes, and artificial intelligence improves target guidance.
Beyond the Refineries
Dozens of additional Ukrainian strikes this year damaged fuel storage tanks, pumping stations, and pipeline infrastructure across Russia. Moving fuel is becoming harder even where refining capacity survives.
The campaign is not one target set. The whole chain runs from crude oil to front-line supply.