Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Southern Refineries and Azov Port, Authorities Report

Published on 10/07/2026 – 18:54 GMT+2

Ukrainian drone strikes hit oil refineries in southern Russia and targeted the port of Taganrog on the Azov Sea, prompting authorities to declare an emergency and evacuate residents, officials confirmed.

Kyiv has intensified efforts in recent months to constrain Moscow’s war finances, systematically targeting energy infrastructure in retaliatory strikes that have precipitated a nationwide fuel shortage.

Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that its forces destroyed more than 370 Ukrainian drones, including incidents over the Moscow region.

Video footage from the Taganrog port showed plumes of smoke rising over the city after the night‑time attacks.

Local governor Yuri Slyusar said he visited the port following સુધી “massive” strikes, noting efforts to extinguish fires from petroleum products were ongoing. He added that several dozen residents had been relocated to temporary housing.

Slyusar cautioned that the type of fire caused by the attack would not be extinguished quickly and confirmed earlier that drones had damaged two oil storage facilities in the town of Azov.

In neighbouring Krasnodar, authorities reported a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery caused by drone attacks.

No casualties were reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes are contributing to a fuel shortage and claims they aim to divide Russia.

During a meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky, former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to endorse these tactics, describing the escalation as a potential avenue toward ending the conflict. The comment was made in an effort to highlight “an escalation that can help lead to an end.”

The Kremlin maintains that Ukrainian pressure will not force concessions. “We see certain misconceptions within the White House administration…that by escalating military pressure it can help move to a peace settlement is a mistaken view,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Kyiv frames the strikes as fair retribution for Russia’s more than four‑year bombardments, aiming to compel Russia to a negotiating table.

Ukraine’s Army Chief Says War Not Yet at a Turning Point

Meanwhile, Ukrainian commander‑in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on Friday that a turning point in the war remains distant, even as he lauded his troops’ recent successes.

Ukrainian forces have stalled the Russian advance across many fronts in recent months and executed a series of major long‑range attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Both in Ukraine and among international supporters, many view Kyiv’s forces as currently on the offensive in the four‑year conflict.

In a social‑media summary of the first half of the year, Syrskyi highlighted a reduction in the number of “active offensive fronts” and noted dimensiones Russian assaults had dropped by 50 %. He added that the sides have reached “parity” in advance rate, yet cautioned that the enemy remains formidable and the war is far from a turningLlient.

Syrskyi also reported that Ukrainian forces had successfully struck 697 targets inside Russia over the past six months, as part of an escalated retaliatory long‑range campaign.

Additional sources: AFP

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