Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries inside Russia have led to fuel shortages and rising gasoline prices. Analysts warn the pressure will accelerate inflation and deepen Russia’s economic challenges.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), on August 28 Ukraine’s Forces of Unmanned Systems, working with units from the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine), SSO (Special Operations Forces) and GUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence), struck two refineries.
The targets were the Kuibyshev Refinery in the Samara region, which processes up to 7 million metric tons of crude a year, and the Afipsky Refinery in Krasnodar Krai, with capacity of 6.25 million metric tons. Both produce gasoline and diesel and supply the Russian military. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said these plants are critical to Russia’s military needs.
Separately, on August 27 the Russian government announced an extension of its gasoline export ban—through September 30 for producers and through October 31 for non-producers. Fuel supply issues predated the latest attacks, prompting periodic export restrictions since 2022. The most recent Ukrainian strikes have worsened the shortage and driven a sharp spike in gasoline prices in Russia and in occupied areas of Ukraine.
Analysts say the fuel crunch will raise costs for businesses and households and quicken inflation.
Russian military bloggers reacted sharply to the refinery hits, criticizing air defenses near strategic sites and acknowledging that drone attacks are inflicting tangible damage on the country’s oil and gas sector. They also noted that ordinary Russians are starting to feel the pinch as gasoline prices surge and domestic production struggles to meet demand.
Beyond criticism, proposals emerged to strengthen defenses: commentators urged delegating more authority to mobile air-defense teams and equipping them with small-caliber artillery, man-portable air-defense systems and radars to better detect and destroy drones.
ISW underscores that deep-rear strikes remain one of the most sensitive issues for Russian society and simultaneously erode confidence in the government’s ability to protect critical infrastructure.
“Russia’s information space has blamed Russian leadership for failing to protect Russian military infrastructure from Ukrainian drone strikes throughout the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian long-range drone strikes continue to press on this preexisting pressure point in the Russian information space,” the assessment says.
Powerful overnight strikes hit major refineries in the Samara region and Krasnodar Krai, igniting large fires at the facilities. Thick black smoke rose high into the sky and blanketed nearby cities.
Earlier reports said Russia’s fuel shortage has deepened after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks.
In several regions, gas stations ran dry, prices climbed to record levels, and drivers faced hours-long lines.
Reports also indicate that only a handful of Russia’s large refineries remain unscathed—and could become targets for future Ukrainian drone strikes.
In August 2025 alone, Ukraine’s defense forces carried out more than ten successful attacks on Russian oil-refining infrastructure. Analysts say taking just two or three more key plants offline could paralyze the system.
