Russia vows to step up strikes; Ukraine to retaliate against Russian oil refineries
Russia's Defense Ministry said it would intensify strikes, while President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to increase attacks on Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian drones have struck refineries about 70 times in 2026.
Russia's Defense Ministry said it would step up strikes on targets in Ukraine in response to attacks on Russian territory. The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to increase strikes on Russian oil refineries, while stressing that Ukraine would not target civilian sites.
The latest strikes
On October 2–3, Russian attacks damaged Kyiv's Northern Bridge — the second bridge hit in two days. According to Al Jazeera, at least six people were killed in Ukraine, with casualties also reported in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and elsewhere. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the bridge is used for Ukrainian military logistics.
Strikes on refineries
According to Reuters data, Ukrainian drones have struck Russian oil refineries roughly 70 times since the start of 2026. About 45 million tons/year of refining capacity is offline, Russian refining has fallen to a 20-year low of around 3.5 million barrels per day, and gasoline and diesel output has dropped 25–40%. Strikes have hit major plants including Kirishi, Ryazan and Nizhny Novgorod.
Why it matters for Uzbekistan
The disruptions have caused fuel shortages inside Russia: by late August, gasoline production covered only about 70% of domestic demand, and the government restricted exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel — the diesel export ban was extended through the end of October. Because Russia is an important fuel supplier and labor-migration market for Uzbekistan, price swings and shortages in that market can ripple into the region.
