Get you up to speed: Ukraine destroys 49 of Russia’s shadow fleet ships in crippling strikes | News World
Ukrainian strikes targeted the shadow fleet and oil depots in Russia, with 14 new attacks today resulting in a total of 49 vessels lost this week. The strikes included an overnight assault on Taganrog port, which caused an inferno at the Kurgannefteprodukt oil depot and prompted an emergency evacuation of residents.
The recent strikes have resulted in a substantial reduction in oil trading volumes, with figures dropping to 53% of January levels and prices soaring to 146%. Russian authorities are working to conceal the extent of damage to oil refineries while also struggling to secure diesel supplies crucial for the 2026 harvest season.
Kremlin reports indicate a catastrophic fuel crisis following Ukrainian drone strikes, with authorities attempting to conceal the full extent of damage to oil infrastructure. As fuel shortages escalate and prices soar—rising to 146% of pre-war levels—Russia is reportedly seeking to import supplies to address the immediate needs of both civilian and agricultural sectors.
What remains unclear — The Kremlin has not disclosed the extent of damage to Russian oil refineries following the attacks.
Ukraine targets 49 ships from Russia’s shadow fleet in recent attacks
Ukrainian strikes have crippled the shadow fleet and oil depots in Russia(Picture: east2west)
Vladimir Putin’s shadow fleet was rocked by 14 new attacks today as the chaos at Russia’s petrol stations deepens.
This brings the total to 49 the vessels lost this week – almost all of them oil tankers supplying fuel to Crimea and other Ukrainian territory annexed by the Kremlin.
The crisis is now ‘catastrophic,’ with the Kremlin scrambling to hide the consequences, one report warned.
In more bad news for Vladimir Putin, Ukraine also staged crippling overnight strikes on Taganrog port, triggering an inferno at the Kurgannefteprodukt oil depot and an emergency evacuation of residents.
Meanwhile, queues for petrol are growing and prices escalating, even in faraway Siberia, as Putin refuses to halt the war or give up his aim of grabbing the entire Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Putin’s shadow fleet helps transport sanctioned oil (Picture: Getty)
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Independent Russian news outlet Meduza analysed oil trading data and concluded: ‘The situation with fuel after the Ukrainian drone attacks appears to be simply catastrophic.
‘The authorities are trying to keep information about the extent of the damage to Russian oil refineries secret.
‘Under these circumstances, the fuel shortage can be indirectly assessed, for example, by analysing exchange trading data. We have studied this data. The picture resembles a collapse.’
Even before the latest strikes, the volume of trading fell to 53% of the January level, while the price rose to 146%.
Footage also highlighted Ukrainian kamikaze drones targeting military trucks filled with Russian occupiers in the rear areas of the Luhansk region.
Russia, the world’s second-largest oil producer, is now seeking to import supplies due to the carnage caused by Ukrainian drones
Russia also faces damage to its harvest, with grain lost due to chronic diesel shortages.
‘The 2026 harvest season is turning into a nightmare for Russian farmers, who are facing a shortage of diesel fuel, restrictions on its sale, and rising prices,’ the Moscow Times reported.
‘The shortage of diesel fuel for combine harvesters and other equipment is particularly acute in key southern regions.’
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