Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities hit record high since start of large-scale war

Ukraine has significantly stepped up its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure this month, striking the highest number of sites and hitting the broadest range of targets since the start of the full-scale war.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: In December, there have been at least 24 attacks on Russian oil refineries, oil tankers and other maritime targets, as well as key pipeline infrastructure, according to Bloomberg data compiled from public statements by both sides.

These strikes are increasing pressure on Russia's exports, which are already suffering from international sanctions against the country's largest oil producers.

While Moscow continues to ship significant volumes of crude, the flow of oil revenue – a key source of war funding – is shrinking. The Russian government expects oil and gas revenues to fall to 23% of budget income this year, which would be a record low.

It is especially notable that Kyiv has intensified strikes on offshore infrastructure, including repeated attacks on Lukoil's oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea.

In December, the Black Sea ports of Taman and Rostov were also hit, with several tankers catching fire, and strikes on Russia's "shadow fleet" also continued.

Deep inside Russia, Ukraine has continued to target Russian oil refineries: on one occasion, the General Staff reported that Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles were used for the first time against a refinery in Novoshakhtinsk.

Russia, for its part, regularly attacks Ukraine's energy and civilian infrastructure, leaving thousands of people without electricity, water and heating amid freezing temperatures.

Background: On the night of 30-31 December, drones attacked the city of Tuapse in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, causing fires at the port and at a local oil refinery.

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