(KYIV) – Ukrainian forces executed a coordinated overnight attack striking three Russian oil refineries and two oil depots, marking a significant escalation in the campaign against Russia’s energy sector. Simultaneously, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed strikes on 35 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov within the past four days, while occupied Crimea remains largely without electricity as sustained logistics interdiction destroys over 30 Russian supply vehicles daily.
The overnight strikes targeted refineries in Saratov, Ufa, and Tatarstan, alongside a pumping station in Bashkortostan and oil depots in Tver and Stavropol. Visual confirmation from the sites showed significant fires at each location. The Saratov refinery has now been struck approximately twenty times, with the most recent attack prior to this occurring on 31 May. The Tatarstan facility was previously hit on 12 June, and the Ufa refinery on 1 July. Despite Russian efforts to wrap fuel tanks in protective nets, Ukrainian drones successfully breached these defences.
Russia’s ability to defend these sprawling industrial sites remains severely limited. Local employees were filmed standing outside watching the attacks unfold, whilst motorists queued for petrol with refinery fires visible in the background. Russia has subsequently banned diesel exports in an attempt to secure domestic supply, a measure analysts assess will prove insufficient given the sustained nature of the Ukrainian strike campaign.
The most remarkable development this week is Ukraine’s intensified maritime campaign in the Sea of Azov. The Unmanned Systems Forces, via the Madiar’s Birds unit, have released extensive footage cataloguing strikes on 35 ships over four days. On 6 July, two tankers were struck. On 7 July, eight tankers, one cargo ship, and one ferry were hit. On 8 July, nine vessels including cargo ships and tankers were attacked, some receiving repeat strikes to render them fully inoperable. On 9 July, twelve tankers, one cargo ship, and one tugboat were struck, all individually identified with accompanying video evidence.
Ukraine is effectively declaring the Sea of Azov a no-go zone for Russian shipping. This represents a bold shift from the informal maritime understanding that had existed, under which Ukraine exported grain from Odesa and Russia moved oil and grain through the Azov. The smaller coastal tankers targeted are not designed for open sea conditions. Analysts recall the December 2024 Black Sea oil spill when the Volganeft 212 and Volganeft 239, vessels of similar inland design, broke apart during a storm. Should Russia attempt to sail these damaged ships into the Black Sea to escape drone range, severe weather could prove catastrophic.
Satellite imagery from the Kerch Strait showed 23 vessels attempting to exit the Sea of Azov, some potentially already damaged. These ships are likely seeking refuge in Russian ports such as Novorossiysk or Tuapse, or even attempting to reach the waters of Georgia or Turkey for protection. Russian ships have previously sailed into NATO territorial waters off Turkey to evade Ukrainian drones. Concurrently, Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels continue to target larger tankers conducting ship to ship transfers, with a successful strike disabling one such vessel overnight.
In occupied Crimea, the situation continues to deteriorate. Between 70 and 80 percent of the peninsula’s population is without electricity. Only Kerch retains power, supplied by lines from mainland Russia which Ukraine is actively targeting. Fires have been confirmed at electrical substations. The governor of Crimea, in a public address, acknowledged the crisis, stating measures were being taken but conceding the enemy was testing them with new drone warfare technologies. He urged public calm and claimed to be available around the clock, though local reporting indicates residents are fleeing the peninsula.
Ukraine’s logistics interdiction campaign against Russian supply lines continues to intensify. Data compiled by analyst Klemen Mullan indicates that in the first week of July, mid range Hornet drones destroyed 240 Russian supply vehicles, averaging 34 per day. This compares to an average of seven per day in May and 20 per day in June. The footage released daily by the Unmanned Systems Forces shows extensive destruction of military logistics trucks across occupied territories.
The fuel crisis is spreading into mainland Russia. Petrol stations across multiple regions have reported shortages, with queues stretching for hours. In some locations, Russians are camping at filling stations, leaving vehicles in line and waiting for tanker deliveries. Incidents of civilians blocking fuel trucks with their own cars to demand petrol have been documented. Some station operators have installed metal barricades and cages to prevent people and vehicles from remaining on the premises. Reports indicate the Kremlin is establishing a shadow network of filling stations to ensure FSB officers and officials retain access to fuel, creating what sources describe as a two tier society of those with and without access to petrol.
The governor of Kursk has urged officials to work from home to conserve fuel. Kremlin state television broadcasters have attempted to frame the shortages by invoking Soviet era hardships, including ration cards and water collection by bucket, urging the public to endure as previous generations did.
On the front lines, Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed the downing of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet, valued at approximately £79 million (US$100 million), using an ambush tactic involving a decoy glide bomb attack. Russian military bloggers also reported a Ka-52 helicopter was shot down near Voronezh in a friendly fire incident, struck by a man portable air defence system operated by Russian ground forces while attempting to intercept drones. An S-400 launcher, Pantsir S1 air defence system, P-14 radar, and other specialised equipment were also destroyed, as shown in footage released by Ukrainian units.
In the Belgorod region, Ukraine’s campaign to destroy border bridges is disrupting Russian logistics supporting forces still positioned near Vovchansk. Ukraine’s drone chief warned Russian truckers that the Crimean corridor remains a death trap, with the logistics lockdown in full effect.
Russia continues to launch ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, striking Kyiv and Odesa. A public transport bus was hit in Odesa, and a Philip Morris warehouse in Kyiv was destroyed. Ukraine’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles remains constrained due to limited Patriot interceptor stocks.
At the NATO summit in Turkey, United States President Donald Trump stated Ukraine would be permitted to produce Patriot missile interceptors domestically, though no formal agreement was signed. Ukrainian analysts welcomed the announcement cautiously, noting that establishing production facilities and supply chains would take years and does not address the immediate interceptor shortage. Trump declined to impose new sanctions on Russia, citing potential future economic deals.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, when asked by Trump whether he would travel to Moscow to meet the Russian dictator, responded: “It’s difficult. There are a lot of Ukrainian drones. They are dangerous.”
The Czech government announced it will purchase American weapons as part of the Pearl initiative. Turkey committed an undisclosed sum to the NATO Pearl Fund. South Korea announced £79 million (US$100 million) in humanitarian aid. Japan blocked a reported Russian attempt to purchase jet fuel through a loophole. The European Parliament approved a motion calling for a ban on Russian alumina exports from a facility in Ireland.