Cruelest Month for Russian Fuel: Inside Ukraine’s April Deep Strike Wave

Ukraine says it struck 14 Russian refineries and key fuel hubs in April, alongside ports, ships, aircraft and military sites from Crimea to the Urals. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied This handout satellite image released by 2026 Planet Labs PBC on April 29, 2026, shows a plume of smoke rising from the Tuapse oil refinery in the Russian port of Tuapse, south-western Russia, on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Handout / 2026 Planet Labs PBC / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine’s Defense Forces used long-range strike weapons in April to hit 14 Russian oil refineries and terminals, two industrial plants, and military assets from occupied Crimea to the Urals – long considered Russia’s “deep rear,” according to a Defense Ministry report. The campaign focused heavily on Russia ’s oil refining and fuel logistics network, which plays a central role in financing the war and supplying the Russian Armed Forces. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The Defense Ministry says the April campaign demonstrates a continued expansion of deep strike range – now more than 2.5 times greater than at the start of the full-scale invasion. At least 14 major oil refining and logistics facilities were struck during the month, with multiple sites hit repeatedly. One of the targets was the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Ufa (Republic of Bashkortostan), located about 1,400 km (870 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The plant, which produces marine, hydraulic and motor lubricants and has a capacity of 7 million tons per year, was hit and caught fire. Ukrainian sources say it supports Russian military and naval needs. The Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery in Kstovo (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast), roughly 800 km (497 miles) from the border, also sustained a large fire. Ukrainian reporting says key units were damaged or knocked out, including AVT-6 and AVT-1 primary processing units and a diesel fuel hydrotreating unit. With a capacity of 17 million tons annually, the facility reportedly accounts for nearly 30% of Russia’s gasoline consumption and supplies aviation and diesel fuel. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Downs Russia's New Geran-4 Jet-Powered Drone One of Ukraine’s interceptor drone manufacturers said a drone unit managed to down the second jet-powered Russian drone in a week using the company’s remote control system. Tuapse and repeated strikes on key Black Sea hub The Tuapse oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai was struck three times – on April 16 , 20 , and 28 – making it the most repeatedly hit facility of the month. Located about 1,500 km (932 miles) from Ukraine, it has a capacity of 12 million tons annually and produces Euro-5 fuels. According to Ukrainian reporting, initial strikes damaged primary processing units and storage tanks. Later strikes reportedly destroyed or damaged dozens of tanks and reignited fires. Additional confirmed targets included: Novokuybyshevsk refinery (Samara Oblast) (~1,000 km [621 miles]): explosions and fire reported at an 8.8 million-ton facility supplying multiple fuel types for the military. Syzran refinery (Samara Oblast) (~900 km [559 miles]): fire at a facility directly involved in supplying Russian forces. Yaroslavl refinery (Yaroslavl Oblast) (~750 km [ 466 miles]) damage to a key vacuum distillation unit; capacity of 15 million tons annually. Orsknefteorgsintez (Orenburg Oblast) (~1,500 km [932 miles]): fire reported; produces over 30 types of fuel products for civilian and military use. Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez (Perm Oblast) (~1,500 km [932 miles]): struck multiple times, including damage to the AVT-4 unit and associated infrastructure, causing fires and disabling key processing capacity. Ukraine also struck critical export and logistics infrastructure described as key to Russia’s energy revenues: Primorsk port (Leningrad Oblast) (~850 km [528 miles]): fire and damage to storage tanks (60,000 cubic meters total capacity affected). Ust-Luga oil terminal (Leningrad Oblast) (~900 km [559 miles]): reported tank damage. Vysotsk oil terminal (Leningrad Oblast) (~950 km [ 590 miles ]): fire reported. Tikhoretsk oil pumping station (Krasnodar Krai) (~300 km [ 186 miles ]): fire confirmed. Sheskharis terminal , Novorossiysk (~420 km [261 miles]): major fire at Black Sea oil hub. In addition, oil depots in Feodosia and Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea, and pumping stations in Crimea and Krasnodar Krai, were also reportedly hit as part of tactical fuel supply networks. On April 10, Ukraine reportedly struck offshore oil production infrastructure in the Caspian Sea for the first time, hitting ice-resistant platforms at the Graifer and Korchagin fields, located around 1,000 km (621 miles) from the front line. On April 29, the Ukrainian Navy struck the sanctioned tanker “MARQUISE” in the Black Sea, about 210 km (130 miles) from Tuapse. Two naval drones reportedly hit the stern area near the propulsion and engine systems. The vessel, flagged in Cameroon, is under multiple Western sanctions and is alleged to have been part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Two defense-related facilities were also struck: Strela plant (Bryansk Oblast) – produces components for cruise missiles and holds over 120 state defense contracts. Atlant Aero plant (Taganrog, Rostov Oblast) – targeted by Neptune missiles; produces UAV systems including Molniya drones and components for Orion UAVs. Ukraine also reported repeated strikes on Russian naval assets in Crimea and the Black Sea: Two large landing ships ( Yamal and Nikolay Filchenkov) disabled in Sevastopol Bay, with estimated damages exceeding $150 million. Additional strikes reported on the same vessels later in April. Frigate “Burevisnik” reportedly damaged by UAV strike. Radar reconnaissance ship, Black Sea Fleet training center, and air defense command elements reportedly hit. MiG-31 aircraft and operational airfield infrastructure at Belbek also damaged. Federal Security Service (FSB) border guard vessels and patrol boats in Sevastopol and the Kerch Strait were also reportedly struck. On April 25, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck aircraft at Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk region , including two Su-57 fighters and a Su-34, at a distance of roughly 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials described this as one of the deepest strikes of the war. “The Urals have always been considered a deep and reliable rear of the Russian Federation. Ukraine has now destroyed that myth,” the report adds. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.