Ukraine’s Drone Strike Targets Russian Energy Facility

Drone Attack: Ukraine Strikes Russian Energy Infrastructure

​Ukraine has intensified its strategic operations by targeting Russian energy infrastructure through drone strikes. On March 17, 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked a fuel and energy complex in Russia’s Astrakhan region, igniting a significant fire and injuring one individual.

Regional Governor Igor Babushkin confirmed that staff were evacuated prior to the attack, and the injured person has been hospitalized.

This assault is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine to disrupt Russian energy facilities. Notably, a recent drone strike targeted Moscow’s primary oil refinery, which supplies approximately 50% of the city’s fuel needs. Additionally, the Druzhba pipeline’s control station was damaged, temporarily halting energy exports to Hungary.

These actions aim to impair Russia’s economic stability and diminish its geopolitical influence, potentially steering Moscow toward negotiating a ceasefire.

Ukraine’s development of the “Long Neptune,” an advanced cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), has enhanced its capability to conduct deep strikes into Russian territory.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that this missile has been successfully tested and deployed in combat, targeting critical Russian infrastructure such as oil refineries. ​

In response, Russia has escalated its military presence along the Ukraine border, particularly in the Sumy region. President Vladimir Putin has rejected a U.S.-supported 30-day ceasefire proposal, insisting that Western military aid to Ukraine must cease before any agreement can be considered. ​