Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that he has ordered his military to triple the number of long-range drone strikes against Russian targets, setting a target of 1,000 drones per day – up from a current average of around 300.
The declaration came during a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, where Zelenskyy told defense industry officials that Ukraine’s drone production capacity must be expanded to meet the new target. “There needs to be more: there is a concrete goal, and we will fulfil this task,” he said in his evening address.
The order marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s strategy of what Zelenskyy calls “long-range sanctions” – systematic strikes on Russian infrastructure designed to bring the economic costs of the war deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian officials argue these strikes are already having a tangible impact on Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort.
Refinery Campaign Breaks Monthly Records
Ukrainian forces have struck Russian oil refineries at least 21 times in August, the highest monthly number ever recorded, according to United24 Media, citing Bloomberg data. The attacks have pushed crude oil processing to near its lowest level in more than two decades.
Russia processed an average of just 3.8 million barrels of crude per day in August, compared with the 5.3 million to 5.5 million barrels typically processed during the higher-demand summer period, according to Bloomberg, citing Energy Aspects. Gasoline output and deliveries to Russia’s domestic market fell by nearly 20% year-on-year during the first three weeks of August. Diesel production dropped by more than 23%.
The renewed pressure came after a brief recovery in July when Ukrainian attacks slowed. That respite proved short-lived, with the August wave of strikes surpassing all previous months and forcing Russian motorists back into long queues at gas stations.
Russia Begins Importing Fuel
The fuel crisis has reached a point where Russia has begun importing gasoline and diesel, something the country has never done before as a major energy exporter. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the imports on Wednesday, though he did not disclose volumes or sources.
Industry reports indicate that diesel shipments have arrived from Asia, with at least two additional gasoline cargoes from India expected at Russian ports within two weeks. The irony is not lost on analysts: Russia, which was responsible for roughly 10% of global diesel exports before the war, is now buying fuel from the very countries it once supplied.
Russia imposed bans on gasoline and diesel exports this summer to stabilize the domestic market, but these measures have not prevented shortages from spreading to Moscow and the surrounding region, the country’s largest and typically best-supplied fuel market. Residents in the capital have begun sharing daily information in community chats about which gas stations still have gasoline, with queues of 30 to 50 vehicles becoming common.
Economic Ripple Effects
The fuel crisis is cascading through Russia’s economy. The rouble has lost approximately 20% against the dollar since May, reaching 85.44 on the interbank market earlier this week – its weakest level since September 2025, according to Reuters.
Analysts at Bank Saint Petersburg said the rouble is being pressured by “a significant volume of foreign currency purchases related to fuel imports.” Oil companies also need foreign currency to purchase equipment to repair facilities damaged by drones. Meanwhile, car imports jumped 21% in the second quarter as demand for electric vehicles surges among Russians avoiding gas station queues.
Sberbank analysts estimate the rouble will weaken to 88.20 per dollar by end-2026 and could approach 97 per dollar by end-2027, suggesting the economic damage may be structural rather than temporary.
Jet-Powered Shaheds and Interceptor Race
Zelenskyy also highlighted Russia’s use of jet-powered Shahed drones on a massive scale, with regular attacks recorded across Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions. He called for “significantly accelerated” production of interceptor drones specifically designed to counter these faster, more advanced unmanned systems.
On the same day as Zelenskyy’s announcement, Ukrainian forces struck the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, causing fires at the facility. The refinery is located more than 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, demonstrating the growing reach of Ukraine’s long-range drone fleet.
The escalation comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. On Friday alone, Russia launched seven S-8000 Banderol missile drones and 96 strike UAVs, mostly targeting the Kyiv region, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. But Zelenskyy made clear that Moscow should expect the cost of continuing the war to increase dramatically.
“The enemy’s losses will increase if Moscow continues to refuse meaningful negotiations,” he said.
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