Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have triggered the most severe nationwide fuel shortages in recent years, with authorities in at least 53 federal regions imposing mandatory or private-sector restrictions on petrol and diesel sales. The Moscow oil refinery, which supplies over a third of the capital’s fuel, will remain offline for at least six months after being struck twice this month, industry sources told Reuters. In Crimea, the Russian-installed governor suspended all retail fuel sales to civilians, reserving supplies for essential services, while Sevastopol introduced rolling blackouts after a substation was hit. Russia’s defence ministry reported intercepting 269 drones overnight on 25 June, but falling debris caused a fire at the Poltavskaya oil depot in Krasnodar and killed at least four civilians in Bryansk and Belgorod regions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had ordered Ukraine’s intelligence services and military to conduct pre-emptive strikes against facilities Russia uses to expand its war effort. In a social media post, he argued that the fuel shortages now visible in more than 60 Russian regions demonstrate the effectiveness of the campaign and that Moscow’s redeployment of air defences to protect the capital and the Kerch Bridge leaves other areas exposed. The Ukrainian leadership frames the strikes as a justified response to Russia’s systematic targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which last winter left millions without power. Moscow, for its part, has not officially acknowledged the scale of the disruption, but Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia is considering a ban on diesel exports, and the Vedomosti newspaper reported that fuel imports are being evaluated to address shortages, particularly in Crimea.

The economic and logistical consequences are mounting. The International Energy Agency described the level of disruption to Russian refining as unprecedented in the conflict. Official data show a 13.5% year-on-year drop in petroleum product output in May. Social media channels in Russia carry growing complaints of long queues and price spikes, with some users saying people are willing to pay any price for fuel. The attacks have also affected military logistics: Ukrainian strikes on fuel transit terminals in the Kerch Strait and on the rail bridge in Crimea have complicated supply lines for Russian forces on the peninsula. Meanwhile, El Al suspended Tel Aviv–Moscow flights, citing regional instability, and Norwegian People’s Aid reported two of its Ukrainian demining staff killed in a Russian strike in Kherson.

Viewed from Washington, President Donald Trump publicly praised Zelensky as “courageous” and said he is “doing pretty well,” a notable shift from earlier criticism. European diplomats at the G7 summit in France observed what President Emmanuel Macron called a “real change in approach” by Trump, who privately encouraged Zelensky to act more boldly, according to the Kyiv Independent. However, US officials have refrained from publicly condemning specific Russian actions, fearing it could harm negotiations, European sources told Foreign Policy. In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed “growing irritation” at the shift and questioned whether Washington’s stance had genuinely changed. Peace talks remain stalled, with Russia insisting on territorial concessions Ukraine rejects, while Kyiv’s drone campaign continues to expand in range and intensity.