Ukraine has hit 10 critical infrastructure sites in Russia this week after conducting numerous drone and missile strikes. Kyiv has made a concentrated effort throughout the war to hit numerous Russian oil depots, refineries, manufacturing plants, and more to injure Moscow's ability to keep fighting.
Newsweek's map below illustrates what facilities Kyiv hit with drone and missile strikes this week.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment via email outside of business hours.
Why It Matters
Ukraine's strikes on 10 Russian energy facilities this week are significant because they are part of Kyiv's concerted effort to not only injure Moscow's ability to continue funding the war but also damage one of its key industries in terms of trade. Ukraine conducted more than 80 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and depots in 2024, and since the beginning of the new year, they have continued this effort to damage these facilities that power Russia's military and economy. Further, the reconstruction of these facilities is expensive, as Carnegie Russia Center senior fellow Sergey Vakulenko previously wrote that they are "probably in the vicinity of tens of millions of dollars per plant."
Moreover, despite Western sanctions hampering Russia's oil trade, Moscow's economy relies on oil to survive, and it is already suffering. For 2024 alone, Russia's economy ministry increased its estimated oil and gas export sales to $239.7 billion.
What To Know
Ukrainian forces conducted a drone raid on January 10 by launching 40 Ukrainian drones over Rostov, Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk, Krasnodar, Belgorod and the Sea of Azov, some of which hit multiple targets reported to covert military facilities, including the Chaltyr Brick Plant, which caught on fire.
Kyiv then struck the Taneco oil refinery in Russia's Tatarstan region, located more than 1,000 kilometers [621 miles] from the front lines, on January 11 in an aerial strike. One of Russia's "largest and most modern refineries," the facility is crucial to funding Russia's war effort, as it can process more than 16 million tons of oil each year. The aerial strike caused a fire to break out at the site.
Russia also accused Ukraine of striking the Russkaya compressor station, which supplies gas through the Turkish Stream pipeline, in an attempt to "cut off gas supplies to European countries" on January 13. The pipeline transports gas from Russia to Turkey and supplies gas to southern parts of Europe, allowing Moscow to avoid using Ukraine as the intermediary for transit. Nine Ukrainian drones hit the compressor station in the village of Gai-Kodzor, in Krasnodar Territory and although the Russian Defense Ministry said all of the drones were shot down, the debris of one of the drones minorly damaged the site and equipment. This strike followed the end of Ukraine and Russia's gas transit deal with the new year, halting the movement of Moscow's gas to Europe.
Ukrainian forces also hit the Bryansk Chemical Plant overnight on January 14 in an attack with Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, after using drones to "distract" Russian air defenses. The facility is known for upholding Russia's military industry by producing gunpowder, manufacturing parts for rockets and explosives, and producing ammunition.
Kyiv also hit the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk, the Orgsintez chemical plant in northern Kazan, the Kristall oil refinery in Engels, the Kazanorgsintez plant in Kazan, and the Aleksino chemical plant that night, according to the Kyiv Independent. The strike on the Kristall oil refinery caused a fire to break out and burn for several days, affecting the Engels-2 air base, which it serves. The Aleksino chemical plant also caught fire in the strike. Ukraine tried to target other nearby chemical plants using "six U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six U.K.-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 31 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles," according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Overall, the drone and missile attack targeted 12 regions including Oryol, Saratov, Voronezh, Sumy and Tula, and the Republic of Tatarstan.
Ukraine targeted an oil depot in Voronezh, in southwestern Russia, and conducted multiple drone strikes on the facility on January 15. There were no casualties reported. Newsweek is unable to independently verify the report made by the governor Alexander Gusev.
What People Are Saying
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Iuliia Mendel, a former spokesperson for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on X: "Ukrainian military strikes at oil depot near Russian Voronezh. The depot was storing fuel, which was supplied to the Russian military at the frontline."
Tymofiy Mylovanov, the president of the Kyiv School of Economics, wrote on X: "Ukraine's developed capability to strike deep inside Russia with drones on targets like fuel depots, arms factories, and far military bases. This brings by a war home to Russia and limits its ability to earn oil export revenue."
He added: "The bottom line is that two sides can play any game Russia starts. If Russia targets Ukraine with drones, Ukraine will develop capabilities and retaliate. Missiles are more difficult, but it is also likely to be a question of time for Ukraine."
What Happens Next
Ukraine's continued strikes on Russian energy facilities may bring an end to the war sooner than Moscow would like, as it falls deeper into debt.
English (US) ·