Ukrainian strikes left about half of Russia’s oil-refining capacity offline by late August, with U.S. intelligence helping planners route around air defenses

Ukrainian drone attacks had taken roughly half of Russia’s oil-refining capacity offline by the end of August, according to a Washington Post investigation drawing on S&P Global Energy data. The Post found that at least two-thirds of 36 major Russian refineries it tracked were struck between April and August; some were hit as many as five times.

The campaign has targeted critical refinery components that are difficult to replace under Western sanctions. A European security official told the Post that U.S. intelligence on the locations of Russian air-defense systems and radars was crucial in helping Ukrainian planners identify routes designed to evade detection.

Ukraine has stepped up the attacks as it seeks to increase economic pressure on Moscow. The disruption has contributed to what the Post described as Russia’s worst fuel crisis since the Soviet Union collapsed. On Oct. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes had partly achieved their objective and put the economic damage at about 1% of Russia’s gross domestic product.

The refinery campaign has also become a point of friction in U.S.-Ukraine relations. On Oct. 11, Axios reported that President Donald Trump remained focused on stopping Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries as his administration pursued an energy ceasefire.