Ukraine says its long-range strike campaign has inflicted at least $7 billion in losses on Russia since the start of the year, mainly through damage and disruption to its oil refining sector.
Russia’s oil sector is a central pillar of its war economy, providing key revenue for state finances. By targeting refineries, storage sites, and export infrastructure, Kyiv aims to reduce Russia’s ability to sustain military spending and create long-term pressure on its industrial base.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the figure reflects what he called “long-range sanctions” – Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory – and includes losses from destroyed equipment, operational shutdowns, and delayed shipments.
“Long-range sanctions” targeting oil revenue
“According to the most conservative estimates, since the beginning of the year, the aggressor state has lost at least $7 billion solely as a direct result of our precise sanctions against Russia’s oil industry and refining sector,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that the pressure on Russian energy facilities has intensified in recent months, with strikes designed not only to hit infrastructure but to keep it offline for longer periods and reduce overall output.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s Defense Forces, Security Service, and intelligence agencies are coordinating the operations, and that Kyiv is preparing to expand its long-range strike capabilities.
Repeated strikes on Russia’s Black Sea Tuapse refinery
Recent attacks illustrate that approach. Ukrainian drones struck the Rosneft oil complex in Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai, again on 1 May – the fourth hit on the facility in just over two weeks.
The repeated strikes have kept parts of the refinery burning, disrupted cleanup operations, and damaged large sections of its tank farm and export terminal infrastructure, according to local reports and monitoring channels.
The Tuapse facility is one of Russia’s more advanced refineries and a key exporter of refined products from the Black Sea coast. Continuous damage to such sites has contributed to mounting strain on Russia’s refining capacity and repair cycles.
Kyiv frames these strikes as a way of extending the battlefield beyond frontline positions, focusing on economic pressure points that directly feed into Russia’s war effort over time.
