Last month, Ukraine carried out a record number of attacks on Russia’s strategic oil infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian forces used drones at least 14 times against Russian refineries in November 2025.
Strikes on Refineries and Maritime Infrastructure
The publication reports that the November attacks were coordinated, targeting refineries in central Russia near Moscow, in the Volga region, and along the Black Sea coast. In addition, there were four strikes on oil-loading facilities in the Black Sea and explosions on tankers transporting Russian oil.
According to a Bloomberg source, Ukraine struck two tankers in the Black Sea in late November, while another vessel that had previously carried Russian oil suffered four external explosions near Dakar, Senegal.
Furthermore, maritime drones damaged one of the three moorings at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal. Later, the consortium reported that “any further operations at this mooring are impossible”, while the second mooring is undergoing scheduled maintenance that may last until mid-January.
Attacks on Land-Based Facilities
In addition to maritime targets, Ukrainian drones struck the Orelnefteprodukt oil depot in the Oryol region on December 2. Local residents shared photos showing at least two tanks on fire. The company handles storage as well as wholesale and retail distribution of petroleum products in the region, Bloomberg reports.
Earlier, on November 29, a fire broke out at the Afipsky refinery in the Krasnodar region following a Ukrainian attack. According to the Operational Headquarters, the blaze covered about 250 square meters and damaged part of the refinery’s technical equipment, although there was no reported damage to storage tanks.
Why Ukraine Targets Oil Facilities
Analysts explain that attacks on Russia’s strategic oil infrastructure aim to reduce Kremlin revenues and make it harder for Moscow to finance the war. As Bloomberg notes, these strikes occur amid US efforts to advance peace talks and Ukraine’s push for an advantage on the frontlines after a period of relative quiet.
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Conclusions
The record November strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s active use of an energy strategy to influence Russia’s economy and military capabilities. At the same time, Russia continues regular attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian targets, aiming to undermine public morale ahead of winter. These operations occur amid ongoing US efforts to advance peace talks, highlighting the strategic and diplomatic context of the energy attacks.
