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Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Oil Sites, Ignite Tankers

Ukrainian drone strikes set multiple Russian oil facilities and two tankers ablaze Thursday, worsening fuel shortages across Russia as part of Kyiv's sustained campaign against Moscow's energy infrastructure.

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe Staff Writer

JULY 9, 2026 AT 3:28 PM

According to New York Post, the attacks come just one day after US President Donald Trump announced at the NATO summit in Turkey that Washington would grant Ukraine a license to domestically manufacture Patriot air defense systems—a significant strategic victory for Kyiv in its defense against Russian missile strikes.

Early Thursday morning, Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in the city of Tver in western Russia, sparking a major fire, according to acting regional governor Vitaly Korolyov. In the southern Stavropol region, governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed that oil reservoirs were set ablaze by Ukrainian drones in Vyazniki, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from several nearby apartment buildings as flames spread.

In the Sea of Azov, two oil tankers were hit by Ukrainian drones and caught fire. Rostov governor Yuri Slusar reported that one vessel remained burning and all crew members had been evacuated. The tanker strikes represent the latest in a series of attacks targeting maritime fuel transport to Russian-occupied Crimea, part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to sever supply lines to the peninsula.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses intercepted 73 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday morning. Ukraine’s Air Force countered that Russia launched 94 long-range strike drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukrainian targets overnight, with 72 drones jammed or intercepted while 19 drones and both missiles caused damage at 13 locations.

Fuel Crisis Deepens Across Russia

Ukraine’s relentless targeting of Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure has precipitated a widespread fuel crisis across multiple Russian regions, with gasoline shortages, fuel rationing, and motorists waiting hours at filling stations becoming increasingly common.

Trump Grants Patriot Manufacturing License

During Wednesday’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, President Trump announced the United States would provide Ukraine with licensing rights to manufacture Patriot air defense systems domestically—a capability Ukraine has long sought to bolster its defenses against Russian missile attacks in the war now exceeding four years.

The meeting marked a striking shift in tone from an earlier contentious February 2025 White House encounter when Trump sharply criticized the Ukrainian leader. On Wednesday, however, Trump praised Zelensky’s willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict, stating the Ukrainian president had done an amazing job and demonstrated effectiveness in his leadership.

With information from New York Post

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe

She was born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the granddaughter of an immigrant from Crete who settled in the Greek community of Johannesburg (one of the largest in Africa). She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and a master’s degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She began her career at English-language media outlets in Johannesburg, covering politics and economics, with a focus on issues related to migration and the diaspora. She moved to Athens in 2015 to “return to her roots,” initially to pursue graduate studies, and has remained there permanently. She is married to an Afrikaner; they have two children and live in the southern suburbs of Athens.

Trump Grants Patriot Manufacturing License