The Andromeda Information and Analytical Center conducted monitoring of relevant sources. As of August 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces had carried out more than 190 strikes against oil and gas infrastructure facilities in russia. At least 16 key oil refineries located in the European and Siberian parts of the country have sustained systematic damage. The August 22 strike on the Novokuibyshevsk Refinery represents a continuation of this strategic campaign.
Dynamics and Geography of Strikes in 2026
The military campaign this year has been characterized by increasing scale and geographic expansion:
- January–February. Low intensity. The focus was on frontline and coastal facilities, including the Ilsky, Slavyansk and Volgograd refineries. A total of 13 infrastructure facilities were hit.
- March–April. Systematic pressure. Regular strikes deep inside russia began. The daily volume of disrupted capacity reached approximately 1 million barrels.
- May–June. Peak pressure. May became the record month, with 16 successful strikes. In June, 11 oil refineries were hit, including the repeated disabling of the Moscow Refinery in Kapotnya.
- July–August. Expansion eastward. Operations shifted beyond the Urals and deep into Siberia, including attacks on the Omsk Refinery, facilities in Bashkortostan, and repeated strikes against the Volga region.
Effectiveness and Cumulative Impact
1. Reduction in Refining Capacity
The strikes have taken approximately 11% of russia’s total oil-refining capacity offline. Due to the need for unscheduled repairs, downtime at primary refining units has tripled compared with the same period last year, reaching 95,000 tonnes per day.
2. Domestic Fuel Market Crisis
- More than 40 Russian regions have introduced restrictions or suspended retail sales of certain types of fuel to civilians.
- Retail gasoline prices in regions experiencing shortages have reached historic highs.
- The Russian government has officially lowered environmental requirements for motor fuel from Euro-5 to Euro-3 in order to simplify the production cycle and accelerate output at damaged facilities.
3. Degradation of Military Logistics
The affected refineries, including the Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Moscow and Novokuibyshevsk refineries, are major fuel suppliers for Russia’s “Center” and “South” military groupings.
The Moscow Refinery, which previously supplied up to 60% of the capital region’s market, will not be able to fully restore operations before the beginning of 2027.
Fuel logistics have therefore been redirected toward distant refineries in Siberia, placing additional pressure on the railway network and increasing delivery distances by three to four times.
Key Factors Behind the Change in Tactics
1. Target Prioritization
The focus has shifted from striking storage tanks to destroying primary oil-refining units, including atmospheric and vacuum distillation units.
Damage to distillation columns can halt the entire refinery process. Repairs require imported components whose supply has been restricted by sanctions.
2. Technological Scaling
Ukraine has demonstrated the sustained use of UAVs with operational ranges of up to 1,500–2,000 kilometers.
3. Air-Defense Attrition
Mass attacks are forcing the Russian command to redeploy short-range air-defense systems, including Pantsir systems, from the frontline to protect industrial facilities in the rear.
Conclusion
The Deep Strike campaign of 2026 has evolved from tactical sabotage into a strategic instrument of influence.
It systematically constrains russia’s export revenues, destabilizes the domestic fuel market, and creates direct risks for supplying Russian occupation forces with fuel.
The cumulative effect of the campaign is therefore extending beyond individual refinery disruptions. It is affecting the resilience of russia’s energy system, military logistics, and ability to sustain a prolonged war.