Overview
- This week Ukrainian forces reported long‑range strikes on oil infrastructure across Russia, including a refinery in Omsk nearly 2,500 km from Ukraine and repeated attacks on dozens of 'shadow fleet' tankers in the Sea of Azov.
- The strikes have contributed to widespread petrol and diesel shortages inside Russia and caused fuel sales restrictions and blackouts in occupied Crimea, prompting President Putin to call for emergency subsidies.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry says its air defenses intercepted hundreds of drones during mass raids, with official tallies ranging into the mid‑hundreds and reports of fires and debris damage at refineries and ports.
- Kyiv has opened a criminal probe into the July 6 Vyshneve ammunition‑depot explosion and its prosecutors say they have found no evidence of state involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage while cooperating with German authorities.
- The campaign is increasing demand for Western interceptors, spurring NATO and US discussions on air‑defense support and raising officials’ warnings of a higher risk of Russian escalation in the coming months.