Deep strikes on Russian oil infrastructure mark new phase in Ukraine's long-range campaign
The Ukraine Security Service confirms significant damage to Transneft facilities as Moscow condemns the escalation as terrorism
Ukraine has escalated its aerial campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, targeting oil storage, ports, and refineries located up to 1,600km from its borders. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that these operations represent a new stage in the utilisation of Ukrainian weaponry, designed specifically to limit Russia's war potential and deprive the state of windfall profits derived from high oil prices.
The Ukraine Security Service (SBU) confirmed that a Transneft oil pumping and distribution facility in the city of Perm was struck. This location is described as a strategically important hub within Russia's main oil transportation system, with preliminary reports indicating that almost all storage tanks at the site were on fire following the attack. The facility serves to pump oil to the Perm refinery and distribute it via pipeline in four directions across the country.
In response to the deep strikes, Russian officials have condemned the actions as terrorism. President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov have urged citizens in the Urals region to remain vigilant. The Kremlin spokesman explicitly labelled the attacks on oil facilities as terrorist acts, while the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the strike and noted that it had downed 98 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles across various regions.
Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that 20 per cent of the nation's defence resources are now dedicated to developing new technologies, including remote piloting systems. This capability allows operators to control drones from locations such as Kyiv or Lviv at distances of thousands of kilometres, enabling strikes on targets far beyond the immediate front lines.
Beyond the immediate strikes on Russian soil, Ukraine is actively promoting its security expertise and air defence capabilities to Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskyy has highlighted that Kyiv produces a surplus of certain weapon types, offering partner countries the opportunity to purchase these systems. This outreach has reportedly irritated Moscow, with President Putin expressing particular concern over Ukraine's growing contacts in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
The campaign aims to disrupt Russian export capacity, with Zelenskyy citing internal Russian documents suggesting significant losses at key ports such as Primorsk and Ust-Luga. While Russian officials have dismissed the impact as exaggerated, independent estimates suggest Russia has lost a substantial portion of its export capacity, translating to billions in revenue losses. The Institute for the Study of War has noted that Ukraine has steadily increased the range, volume, and intensity of its attacks on oil infrastructure over the past month.
