Ukraine Strikes Russian Refineries, Deepens Fuel Crisis, Inflation

In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both sides have intensified attacks on each other's energy infrastructure. Russia has escalated missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, targeting cities such as Kyiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia, aiming to degrade Ukrainian energy capabilities ahead of winter. Meanwhile, Ukraine has conducted drone strikes on key Russian oil refineries in the Krasnodar and Samara regions to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military. These Ukrainian attacks have caused significant economic damage in Russia, triggering fuel shortages, export bans, and inflationary pressures that threaten the country's macroeconomic stability. The Institute for the Study of War highlights that these strikes exacerbate an existing gasoline crisis in Russia and increase operational costs across the economy, while Russian military bloggers have criticized the Kremlin's failure to defend critical infrastructure. The conflict's focus on energy targets underscores the strategic importance both sides place on controlling fuel resources amid the broader war.