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- October 17, 202613°
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Ukrainian drones strike Russian oil facilities and tankers, deepening energy crisis for Europe
Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure continue. Oil depots in Tver and Stavropol and two tankers in the Sea of Azov were targeted, causing a fuel crisis in many Russian regions.
Ukraine's armed forces have intensified drone attacks on Russia's energy sector. In the latest operations, oil depots in the Tver and Stavropol regions were hit, and two tankers caught fire in the Sea of Azov.
Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar announced that the fire on one of the tankers in the Sea of Azov could not be extinguished and the crew was evacuated to a safe area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that defense forces destroyed a reserve fuel storage facility about 800 kilometers from the front line, an oil pumping station in Ufa approximately 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, and an oil loading terminal in the Rostov region 200 kilometers from the front. It was not clear whether the attack mentioned by Governor Slyusar was one of these targets.
The Kyiv administration's attacks on oil depots and refineries have led to a fuel crisis in Russia, one of the world's largest oil producers, forcing it to halt gasoline and diesel exports. According to official statements and local media reports, more than 90 percent of Russian regions have introduced some form of rationing or reported fuel shortages.
Zelenskyy described these attacks as part of a 'long-range sanctions' campaign against Russia's military operations and its unwillingness to end the war. The Ukrainian leader said, 'We have long been proposing that Russia end this war, and every day of delay must bring the feeling of war back to where it started – to Russia.'
Russia's Defense Ministry announced that air defense systems shot down 73 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 94 long-range attack drones and two ballistic missiles overnight, with 72 drones neutralized by electronic jamming, but 19 drones and two missiles caused damage at 13 locations.
These developments came a day after US President Donald Trump met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. During the meeting, Trump promised to grant Ukraine a license to produce the Patriot air defense system. This represents a significant shift in tone compared to the tense White House meeting between the two leaders in February 2025. When asked about Ukraine's attacks inside Russia, Trump responded, 'It's an escalation, but it's also an escalation that could help reach an end.'
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the view that military pressure could lead to a peace agreement was 'mistaken.' Peskov warned that 'further escalation could prolong the special military operation for some time,' implying that Russia would 'create a larger security zone' – meaning it would seize more territory in eastern Ukraine.
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