- July 11, 2026
- 1:56 pm
- World News
Ukrainian long-range drones are turning Russia’s oil refining industry from a familiar source of income into one of the Kremlin’s main vulnerabilities. The consequences of the strikes are already extending beyond individual enterprises, affecting fuel production, domestic logistics, and the ability of Russian authorities to conceal the scale of the problems that have arisen.
Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Russia, head of the Russia Studies Program at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, Arkady Milman considers the situation a serious crisis for the entire Russian Federation.
In his assessment, this crisis becomes especially painful personally for Putin, as the fuel shortage and disruptions cannot be completely hidden behind statements from Russian propaganda. The diplomat expressed his position on the air of the project “Studio West” on the “Espresso” TV channel.
A problem that the Kremlin finds difficult to deny
Arkady Milman draws attention to an unusual situation for the Russian authorities: Putin has to publicly acknowledge the existence of problems with fuel and logistics. Usually, the Kremlin continues to talk about the advancement of the Russian army and the approaching “victory,” even when the real situation contradicts this. However, stoppages and damage to oil refining capacities directly affect the supply of regions. In such a case, television statements alone are no longer sufficient.
It’s not just about remote Russian cities, where authorities are used to ignoring public discontent. According to Milman, the consequences of the strikes are also felt in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the emergence of fuel difficulties in the capital takes on a completely different political weight for the Kremlin.
Why gasoline has become a political weapon
An oil refinery is not just an energy infrastructure facility.
Its operation depends on the supply of gasoline and diesel fuel, the transportation of military cargo, the supply of enterprises, agriculture, and the usual movement of transport within the country.
When one large enterprise falls out, the load has to be redistributed among other plants and regions. If the strikes are repeated, Russia faces not just a single fire, but a chain of problems that cannot be quickly eliminated by repairing one damaged workshop.
For the Israeli audience, Milman’s assessment is especially interesting not only because of his diplomatic experience. The former Israeli ambassador is well acquainted with the Russian power system and understands how sensitive crises that affect Moscow and the daily lives of Russians become for the Kremlin.
The strike on the Omsk refinery changed the scale of the campaign
One of the most notable episodes was the strike on the Omsk oil refinery on the night of July 6, 2026. According to published information, Ukrainian drones covered about 2,500 kilometers, making the operation one of the longest-range strikes since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. The target was the primary oil processing unit ELOU-AVT-11 — a key node supplying raw materials to other production lines. Reports of the plant’s shutdown appeared as early as July 7.
The Omsk refinery is considered the largest oil refinery in Russia and one of the main producers of automotive fuel. That is why its damage may be significantly more serious than strikes on less powerful facilities located closer to Moscow.
Strategic initiative shifts to Ukraine
Arkady Milman believes that the events of recent weeks indicate a shift in strategic initiative to Ukraine. This is an expert assessment, but it is based on a noticeable change in the nature of Ukrainian operations: Russian enterprises are being hit at distances that were recently considered inaccessible.
In the Kremlin, according to the Israeli diplomat, they realize the danger, despite attempts by propaganda to present the situation as controlled. Russia is forced to defend a vast territory, oil pipelines, terminals, and dozens of large plants, while the Ukrainian side can choose the most vulnerable technological nodes.
In the midst of this discussion, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency draws attention to an important detail: strikes on oil refining are not symbolic actions. They impact the war economy, complicate transportation, reduce available fuel reserves, and force Russia to spend additional resources on air defense of facilities located deep in the rear.
Milman hopes that the Ukrainian Defense Forces will continue operations against Russian refineries. According to his forecast, if a significant part of the Russian Federation’s refining capacities is threatened, the accumulated damage could cause a full-fledged fuel and logistics crisis.
For Putin, the danger lies not only in the lost volumes of gasoline. The Kremlin model is based on the belief that the war is far from Moscow and almost does not affect the usual life inside Russia, but strikes on refineries gradually destroy this construct. The closer the consequences of the war approach the Russian capitals, the harder it is for the authorities to maintain the illusion of stability.
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