Ukraine has caused so much damage or destruction to Russian oil and gas infrastructure over the past two weeks that it has prompted Russia to issue a warning to European countries and industries against funding its long-range drone production.
The warning comes after Ukraine reached new agreements with European defense companies this week.
“We consider this decision to be a deliberate step towards a rapid escalation of the military and political situation on the entire European continent and the transformation of these countries into a strategic rear for Ukraine,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday this week.
Russia warned of “unexpected consequences” and said that “the steps of European leaders are increasingly dragging these countries into war with Russia.”
It published a list of addresses of European companies involved in joint arms production with Ukraine.
Dmitry MedvedevThe former President of Russia and deputy head of its National Security Council later clarified that it was “a list of potential targets for the Russian armed forces”.
The previous day, Germany agreed to invest 300 million euros ($355 million) in Ukraine’s long-range strike capability and will separately invest in 5,000 mid-range attack drones to be used against Russian battlefield supply lines.
Norway also signed an agreement with Ukraine that will lead to joint production of drones, and donated 560 million euros ($661.5 million) to support the Ukrainian front line with drones.
The Netherlands announced 248 million euros ($293 million) in drone support, and Belgium pledged 85 million euros ($100 million).
Putin’s millions of people are missing
According to reports, the world’s 100 largest oil companies, including Russia’s Gazprom, made a windfall profit of $23 billion in March as a result of the Iran war, which has caused a global oil supply crisis.
But Russia has seen much of that windfall evaporate as a result of Ukrainian attacks targeting its oil export terminals and inland infrastructure.
Reuters reported that Russia missed 40 percent of its potential gains as Ukraine destroyed its ability to export at least 2 million barrels of oil per day.
Those Ukrainian attacks have hit a range of targets, from drilling platforms to pipelines and their pumping stations, offloading terminals and refineries.
Just last week, Ukraine attacked two drilling platforms in the northern Caspian Sea and two oil pumping stations in Volgograd and Krasnodar Krai; an oil depot in the city of Tver, northwest of Moscow; Cherepovets Azot Ammonia Plant in the Volga Region; Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in the Republic of Bashkortostan; and the oil export terminal and refinery at Tuapse on the Black Sea.
All of these attacks have been confirmed by geolocated video footage or by Russian officials.
“Today, our deep attacks are no longer a sensation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, noting how routine its ability to reach deep into Russia has become.
His deputy defense minister, Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov, reported that Russia could not produce enough air defense systems to defend its vast territory, and posted photos of Russian improvised air defenses, including truck-mounted R-77-1 air-to-air missiles.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote, “Russia appears not to have fully developed or deployed mobile fire teams, drone interceptors, or other low-cost deliverable systems to defend against repeated large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks.”
Ukraine’s attacks, on the other hand, are a capability it did not have until it received kits supplied by Western countries last year.
Zelensky released a video on Tuesday this week, now named Arms Makers Day, showcasing 56 types of Ukraine-made weapons, including 31 types of drones.
Former Defense Minister Rustam Umerov, who played a key role in building drone production during 2025, said, “Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the capabilities of the Ukrainian defense industry have increased by more than 50 times.”
Ukraine’s devastating toll
Ukraine’s most devastating damage to Russian oil infrastructure occurred in the last 10 days of March and the first 10 days of April, with Russia’s oil terminals at the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga particularly badly hit after March 22.
Satellite photography suggested that Primorsk had lost 40 percent of its storage facilities and Ust-Luga 30 percent. Market sources also said Russian energy company Novatek has suspended gas condensate processing and exports at Ust-Luga.
Industry sources told Reuters that both ports were still unable to handle oil shipments on April 3. Finnish maritime officials told the agency in early April that shipments from both ports had sharply reduced to “individual vessels” rather than the weekly average of 40 to 50.
When an Aframax tanker arrived at Ust-Luga on 5 April – the first ship to attempt to load crude there in several days – Ukraine attacked the port again that night, burning three 20,000-cubic-metre (706,300 cu-ft) storage tanks.
The same day, Ukraine also attacked oil loading facilities at the Primorsk and Shasharis oil terminals on the Black Sea, which is operated by Russian oil major Transneft. geo-located footage There, a fire was seen on the berth of the oil tanker.
Satellite photography shows that unloading had not resumed even on 14 April.
In the attack, Ukraine also damaged the warship Admiral Makarov carrying Kalibr missiles.
According to an industry source, at least $200 million worth of oil was burned in Primorsk.
On April 8, Ukraine attacked the port of Feodosia, Russia’s largest oil terminal in occupied Crimea. Ukraine has previously targeted this terminal because it is used to supply front lines.
During the first 10 days of April, Ukraine also hit Russian refineries in Bashkortostan, 1,200 km (745 mi) from its borders, and in Nizhny Novgorod.
Zelensky justified the attacks, saying, “Only significant financial losses force Russia to consider the scenario of leaving this war.”
