Ukraine struck two major oil refineries in Russia on June 28, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced. The strikes are part of an expanding campaign using drones to damage Russia's ability to process and sell oil—a critical source of money and fuel for the war.

Earlier in June, Ukraine hit Moscow's Kapotnya refinery twice, on June 16 and June 18, according to Reuters. The damage was so severe that the refinery likely won't reopen until 2027, Reuters reported.

The two new targets—refineries in Krasnodar and Yaroslavl—matter because they convert crude oil into usable products like diesel and gasoline. Krasnodar supplies fuel inside Russia and for export. Yaroslavl's refinery is one of Russia's largest and can produce high-quality fuels. When these facilities go offline, Russia loses fuel for its military vehicles and loses money from selling oil abroad.

Why target refineries instead of something else? Because refineries are expensive to fix. A damaged refinery needs specialized parts that take months to replace, especially now that sanctions prevent Russia from buying Western equipment. A drone that costs tens of thousands of dollars can destroy millions of dollars' worth of equipment—a huge imbalance that favors Ukraine.

The Yaroslavl refinery sits about 250 kilometers northeast of Moscow, well inside what Russia considers protected territory. Hitting it with a drone suggests Ukraine has developed better long-range weapons or is sending more drones to overwhelm Russian defenses.

Russia has not yet admitted damage to either facility. Damage from such strikes is usually confirmed by satellite photos within a day or two.

Ukraine is making a deliberate choice: since it cannot match Russia's military size or weapons production, it focuses on strikes that cause maximum disruption. Refineries fit that strategy perfectly. With one major refinery already shut down and two more hit, Russia faces growing pressure on its energy system at a time when oil and gas sales are vital to funding the war.