Just after midnight, flames rose from an oil facility as emergency lights flickered against the dark sky. Within hours, Moscow airports closed as Ukrainian drones approached, grounding nearly 200 flights.
Across multiple regions, drones had slipped through air defenses, striking fuel sites and military assets hundreds of kilometers apart. Fires burned, alarms sounded, and authorities scrambled to respond.
Multiple Russian regions reported strikes across their territory as fires at refineries and fuel depots continued to burn through the early morning hours.
Deep Incursions
Ukrainian drones traveled extraordinary distances, striking targets far beyond frontline zones. Facilities in Krasnodar, Kaluga, and the Republic of Tatarstan were all affected in a single coordinated wave.
Some sites lay more than 1,100 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory, placing them among the deepest confirmed Ukrainian drone penetrations of the war.
The scope suggested saturation tactics designed to overwhelm regional defenses simultaneously rather than isolated raids.
Mapping the Strike Zone
From southern ports to central industrial hubs, strike locations formed a wide arc across Russia. Refineries and depots in Krasnodar Krai burned, while sites in Tatarstan and Kaluga reported impacts or emergency responses.
The geographic spread underscored Ukraine’s growing long-range reach and the difficulty Russia faces defending vast territory against relatively low-cost drones operating in large numbers.
The Energy Front
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russia’s oil sector as part of its strategy. By 2025, Ukrainian strikes had hit a significant portion of Russia’s major refineries at least once.
These attacks aim to disrupt fuel supplies and reduce export revenue that supports military operations. The New Year’s strikes fit this pattern, focusing again on processing and storage facilities rather than civilian infrastructure.
Ten Targets Confirmed Including Multiple Oil Sites
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed strikes on 10 military and infrastructure targets in a single night. Among them were oil refineries, oil depots, fuel storage facilities, air-defense systems, and command posts.
Fires were reported at multiple oil and fuel sites, while at least one Russian surface-to-air missile system was destroyed. The tally marked one of the most concentrated Ukrainian strike waves of the conflict.
Refineries in Flames
In Krasnodar Krai, the Ilsky oil refinery caught fire after drone impacts. Nearby, the Tuapse refinery was also struck during the same overnight period. In Tatarstan, the Almetyevsk oil preparation facility reported damage under assessment.
Together, these sites represent critical nodes in Russia’s fuel-processing network, and even temporary shutdowns can ripple through domestic supply chains.
Fuel Depots and Logistics
Beyond refineries, Ukrainian drones hit fuel depots supplying Russian forces. A depot linked to Russia’s 51st Army near Ilovaisk ignited, sending flames into the night sky.
An oil depot in Lyudinovo, Kaluga region, was also struck. These losses directly affect military logistics, limiting the availability of fuel for vehicles, generators, and frontline operations.
Military Targets Hit
The strike wave extended to purely military assets. Ukraine reported the destruction of a Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system near the settlement of Shevchenko.
In the Avdiivka area, a command and observation post of the 68th Tank Regiment, part of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division, was hit. These attacks aimed to degrade both air defense and battlefield coordination.
Moscow Feels the Impact
Ukrainian drone attacks on January 3-4 forced the temporary closure of three Moscow airports. Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports suspended operations as authorities assessed drone threats, grounding nearly 200 flights and disrupting travel during the holiday period.
The closures highlighted how Ukrainian drones had penetrated deep into Russian territory and affected civilian infrastructure in the capital region.
Air Defenses Overwhelmed
Russia has claimed numerous drone interceptions, yet the success of this strike wave suggests defenses were stretched thin. Multiple regions reported impacts on the same night, indicating saturation tactics.
The loss of a Tor-M2 system reinforced assessments that even advanced air-defense assets struggle against coordinated drone swarms approaching from different directions and altitudes.
Economic Pressure Builds
Repeated refinery disruptions have tangible economic effects. Russian fuel exports have fallen in recent months, with unplanned shutdowns forcing a shift toward exporting crude rather than refined products.
Ukrainian officials describe oil revenue as the financial backbone of Russia’s war effort. Each successful strike increases repair costs and strains budgets already under pressure.
Civil Aviation Fallout
The airport shutdowns in Moscow had knock-on effects beyond symbolism. Delayed flights disrupted logistics and stranded passengers during a major holiday travel period.
While brief, the closures demonstrated how drone threats can affect civilian infrastructure indirectly, even when airports themselves are not direct targets.
Repair Challenges Mount
Emergency teams worked to extinguish fires and assess damage at refineries and depots. Moscow prioritized restoring output to stabilize fuel supplies and exports.
Yet repeated attacks complicate repairs—Ukraine has demonstrated a pattern of striking facilities multiple times in two-to-three-week cycles, targeting sites before full restoration. Analysts note that even short outages can have outsized effects during winter demand peaks.
What Comes Next
Ukraine has signaled it will continue expanding domestic drone production, aiming to sustain long-range strike capacity. The New Year’s wave showed that coordinated attacks can reach deep inside Russia, including near the capital.
As energy facilities remain vulnerable and defenses strained, the balance between escalation, deterrence, and economic pressure is set to shape the next phase of the conflict.
Sources:
“Defense Forces strike Ilsky Oil Refinery and several important Russian targets.” Ukrinform, 31 Dec 2025.
“Moscow airports shut over Ukrainian drone threat.” The Straits Times / AFP, 4 Jan 2026.
“Ukraine strikes Ilsky oil refinery in Kuban and hits depots and command post in Donetsk region.” Ukrainska Pravda, 31 Dec 2025.
“Ukrainian drones target Moscow, trigger airport closures, Russia says.” Kyiv Independent, 3 Jan 2026.