Russian Oil Depot Under Attack from Ukrainian Drones amidst Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
In a series of escalating events, drone strikes on Russian oil facilities have expanded in both frequency and geographical scope, with the latest attack targeting a major oil loading terminal in St Petersburg, Russia's second city.
The incident marks the third drone strike on Russian oil facilities within three days and the second such attack on Russian soil within two days. The St Petersburg attack, however, is significant as it occurred far from the Ukrainian border, suggesting a potential shift in strategy.
On Thursday, a fire broke out in four oil tanks in an area of 1,000 square meters (10,763 square feet) at the St Petersburg terminal. The drone's explosives, which fell on the oil depot, are believed to have caused the fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
The governor of Bryansk reported that a drone was intercepted near the town of Klintsy, though there is no confirmation yet of any connection between the St Petersburg attack and the intercepted drone. The drone that targeted the St Petersburg terminal reportedly traveled 1,250 kilometers (776 miles) from an unknown location.
These repeated drone strikes serve a dual strategic purpose: directly weakening Russia’s war-sustaining fuel supplies and exerting economic pressure by crippling parts of its refined oil output. The targeted refineries supply diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, and other petroleum products essential for Russian troops on the front lines. Disrupting refining capacity damages Russia’s energy infrastructure output, limiting fuel availability for military and civilian uses. The strikes force Russia to reroute crude oil exports and reduce internal refining, affecting the overall efficiency of their war economy.
Targeting facilities far behind the front lines (200+ kilometers away) demonstrates Ukraine’s growing drone strike range and capability to hit strategic economic targets. Ukrainian military statements and the nature of drone attacks also indicate a focus on critical military infrastructure, such as airfields used for launching Russian drones, amplifying the impacts on Russia’s operational abilities.
This evolving Ukrainian campaign leverages drone warfare to disrupt Russia’s military logistics and energy sectors deep inside its territory as part of the ongoing tensions and conflict. The strategy behind these drone attacks appears to be aimed at undermining Russia’s military logistics and economic capabilities.
The fire occurred at an oil depot in the Bryansk region, marking the second drone strike on Russian oil facilities within two days. The drone responsible for the attack in St Petersburg was reportedly shot down without causing any damage. It is crucial to note that there has indeed been an increase in Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in 2025, specifically targeting major refineries and oil processing plants deep inside Russian territory. These attacks have significantly damaged key infrastructure, disrupting up to 8-10% of Russia’s oil refining capacity and forcing operational shutdowns at critical refineries like the Afipskiy refinery in Krasnodar Krai, Ryazan Oil Refining Company, and Novokuibyshevsk refinery.
These developments underscore the growing intensity and geographical reach of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with both parties employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to achieve their respective goals. As the situation continues to evolve, it is essential to monitor these developments closely and assess their potential impacts on global energy markets and geopolitical relations.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-carried-out-drone-strike-russian-oil-depot-2022-08-14/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62621862 [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-claims-drone-attack-russian-oil-depot-2022-08-15/ [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/16/ukraine-claims-drone-attack-on-russian-oil-depot-in-bryansk [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-used-drones-strike-russian-airfield-2022-08-17/
The escalating drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, as seen in the latest attack on a major oil loading terminal in St Petersburg, are not only increasing in frequency and geographical scope but also seem to be shifting in strategy, as demonstrated by the incident occurring far from the Ukrainian border.
These attacks, which have significantly damaged key infrastructure and disrupted up to 8-10% of Russia’s oil refining capacity, appear to be part of a strategic campaign aimed at undermining Russia’s military logistics and economic capabilities, a reflection of the ongoing tensions and conflicts between Ukraine and Russia.
