Humiliated Putin’s Nightmare Deepens After ‘Overwhelming’ Attacks

Ukraine’s retaliation against the Russian invasion is crippling Moscow’s economy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan September 2, 2026. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Vyacheslav Prokofyev/via REUTERS

Ukraine’s constant drone bombardment of Russia has severely depleted the country’s oil-refining capabilities.

For several months, Kyiv has launched wave after wave of drone strikes targeting Russia’s oil refineries, which are vital for funding President Vladimir Putin’s invasion efforts.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has now downgraded its baseline outlook for Russian oil processing over the next 18 months to 4 million barrels a day, down 30 percent from levels before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. In its monthly oil report, the IEA cited Kyiv’s drone strikes as a key reason for the deterioration in Russia’s oil-refining industry.

“It now appears likely that the persistent drone strikes and the patchwork nature of repairs are having a cumulative negative effect and degrading the refining system,” the IEA said, via Bloomberg.

FILE PHOTO: Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Moscow, Russia, June 18, 2026.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the country’s oil refineries to cripple Moscow’s economy amid the invasion.

The report adds that international sanctions against the Russian energy industry amid the now four-and-a-half-year invasion have made it harder for the Kremlin to repair damaged infrastructure or replace equipment.

This issue has been exacerbated as Ukraine has significantly increased its long-range drone capabilities, meaning it can hit deeper into Russian territory, as well as the frequency and accuracy of its attacks.

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“Ukrainian forces are using multiple drone waves against single sites, overwhelming protective netting and air defences,” the report said. “The targeting also appears more precise.”

Russia has already been experiencing crippling fuel shortages as Ukraine repeatedly targets the country’s oil refineries, resulting in long lines at gas pumps.

Cars queue to refuel at a petrol station in the course of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict, in Donetsk, a Russian-controlled city of Ukraine, June 11, 2026.

Fuel shortages have become one of the most visible signs that Putin’s war is having consequences at home.

Alexander Ermochenko/Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

Ukraine struck at least 22 oil refineries across Russia in August, the largest monthly total since the war broke out, according to a Bloomberg analysis.

The IEA warned that it has only offered a “more cautious assessment” and that the true extent of the problems surrounding Russia’s refining complex could be even worse.

“Longer lead times to source replacement parts and the approach of colder weather could compound the stress placed on the Russian system,” the report states.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv had targeted “eight Russian infrastructure facilities that support the war” over a 24-hour period, including an oil refinery in the Yamalo-Nenets region.

“Russia continues its terror against Ukraine every day. And every day, it receives a just response. Thank you to every warrior, to everyone ensuring our long-range capability and accuracy,” Zelensky posted on X.

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