Special forces hit Gazprom refinery in one of Ukraine’s deepest strikes yet as Kyiv’s long-range campaign targets the fuel supplies powering Russia’s war machine
Ukraine has struck deep inside Russia in a dramatic long-range drone attack on one of Moscow’s biggest oil and petrochemical facilities, dealing another blow to the Kremlin’s vital energy network.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said their drones successfully hit the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan — a refinery located around 1,500 kilometres from Ukrainian territory.
The attack marks another escalation in Kyiv’s campaign to take the war beyond the frontline and directly target the industrial infrastructure keeping Vladimir Putin’s invasion alive. Ukrainian forces said the strike damaged the refinery’s crucial AVT-6 primary crude oil distillation unit, along with other production facilities.
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Ukraine launches deep strike blitz on Russian refineries, tankers and supply routes
The operation was reportedly supported by the underground Russian resistance movement Chernaya Iskra, which Ukrainian officials said operates inside Russia. The group’s involvement highlights the growing challenge facing the Kremlin as sabotage networks and drone operations threaten strategic sites far from the battlefield.
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat is one of Russia’s largest refining and petrochemical complexes.
Ukrainian forces said it was the last major gasoline producer still operating without being targeted this year. The strike is part of a wider Ukrainian strategy aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to produce and transport fuel needed for its military operations.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said: “The Special Operations Forces’ drones successfully reached their targets.”
The message from Kyiv was clear: distance will not protect Russia’s critical infrastructure. The refinery strike was part of a wider overnight offensive.
🔥🛢️Russia’s Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan was hit overnight. 1300km from the frontline.
Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat has annual oil-processing capacity of around 10 million tons. pic.twitter.com/LckUYXfHf3
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) July 14, 2026
Ukraine’s armed forces also launched another large-scale attack against occupied Crimea, targeting Russian military and logistical positions. The Ukrainian Air Force said its air defence units were once again engaged in intercepting Russian ballistic missile threats.
The latest attacks underline the growing importance of long-range weapons and unmanned systems in the conflict. Kyiv has increasingly focused on Russia’s energy sector, targeting refineries, fuel depots, transport hubs and maritime routes. The goal is to create pressure on the Kremlin’s war economy by forcing Russia to spend resources protecting sites hundreds of miles from the front.
The campaign has exposed a major weakness in Moscow’s defence strategy. A country that once relied on its enormous size as a shield is now forced to defend industrial sites deep inside its own territory. As Ukrainian drones continue to reach further into Russia, the battlefield is becoming harder for the Kremlin to contain.
The message from Kyiv is becoming increasingly blunt: Russia’s war machine cannot run if its fuel supply is under attack.
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