Overview
- Open-source analysts and Ukrainian officials report a sharp rise in attacks on filling stations in July that continued into early August, with the London-based Center for Information Resilience recording a 72% month-on-month jump in confirmed strikes on gas stations.
- Local officials say some towns no longer have any intact gas stations, and municipalities such as Trostianets have deployed mobile refuelling points to keep ambulances, buses and municipal services running.
- The strikes have caused civilian casualties and injuries, including a loitering-drone attack near Kryvyi Rih that killed three people and multiple drone and aviation strikes in Sumy region that wounded dozens in recent days.
- Ukraine’s General Staff reports exceptionally high operational tempo this week, citing thousands of kamikaze drones and dozens of aviation strikes used by Russian forces to hit dispersed civilian and logistic targets.
- Ukrainian authorities and rights experts are documenting the attacks as potential war crimes while Russian officials deny intent to target civilians, raising legal and humanitarian questions about accountability and protection of vital services.