Ukraine to continue strikes on Russian oil refineries, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 6 that Ukraine would continue its operation against Russia's oil-refining industry and had identified additional targets for deep strikes. The operation is a response to continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, while Ukrainian forces are preparing for another possible attack. Zelensky also requested additional Patriot interceptors from partners.
Key points
- Zelensky announced on November 6 that Ukraine would continue strikes on Russia's oil-refining industry.
- Ukraine has identified additional targets for deep strikes and responses to attacks on its energy infrastructure.
- Russian forces are preparing a new strike that could target energy facilities, bridges across the Dnipro and civilian infrastructure.
- OSINT analysts estimated that Ukrainian forces disabled about 10% of Russian refining capacity over three days.
- Ukraine's military intelligence said 15 of Russia's 38 principal refineries were offline and 12 had reduced output by late September 2026.
- Refining output at Russia's 38 principal refineries fell 55.4% from the beginning of 2026, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
- Zelensky asked partners not to delay additional Patriot interceptors for Ukraine.
- Ukrainian aircraft destroyed 62 reactive Shahed drones in one day.
Why it matters
The continued campaign is intended to respond to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure while degrading Russia's oil-refining and fuel-supply capacity. Ukraine's preparation for additional long-range strikes could expand the conflict's reach, while intelligence about a possible new Russian attack raises the immediate threat to energy facilities, bridges and civilian infrastructure. The reported damage to Russian refineries may further disrupt a fuel market already struggling with a gasoline shortage.
What happened
Zelensky chaired a briefing on deep strikes and said Ukraine had identified further targets and responses to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. He announced that operations against Russian refineries would continue and that Ukraine would expand the units responsible for long-range strikes. Ukraine's Air Force and armed forces are preparing for another possible Russian attack, with intelligence indicating that energy facilities, bridges across the Dnipro and civilian infrastructure could be targeted. Zelensky said Ukraine needed additional Patriot interceptors and urged partners not to delay their delivery.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents the refinery campaign as retaliation for repeated Russian strikes on power plants, energy grids, heating and water facilities, and civilian logistics. It emphasizes the identification of new targets, planned expansion of long-range strike units and preparations for further Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials also highlight the damage inflicted on Russian refining capacity and describe sanctions, medium-range strikes and partner pressure as tools intended to motivate negotiations.
How international sources describe it
International reporting focuses on the effect of Ukrainian refinery strikes on Russia's fuel market, which Bloomberg said was struggling to overcome a gasoline shortage. It also cites a combined daily refining capacity of about 470,000 barrels for the three reportedly attacked Rosneft refineries in Ufa and 340,000 barrels for the Lukoil Norilsk refinery in the Volga region.
Background
Ukrainian power plants, energy grids, heating and water facilities and civilian logistics have faced continued attacks using Shahed drones and missiles. Ukrainian military intelligence reported that 15 of Russia's 38 principal refineries were out of operation and another 12 had reduced output by late September 2026. It also reported a 55.4% decline in refining output at those facilities compared with the beginning of the year. Bloomberg reported attacks on three Rosneft refineries in Ufa and an industrial facility near the Lukoil Norilsk refinery in the Volga region.