CaliToday (15/9/2025): The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered a new, extremely tense, and fierce phase of escalation, as both sides shift their attacks toward each other's critical energy infrastructure. In a large-scale and prolonged campaign, Ukraine has announced it has dealt a powerful blow to Russia's oil refining industry, while Moscow has retaliated with intense airstrikes on Kyiv's energy systems.
Ukraine's Bold Airstrike Campaign
According to reports released by the Ukrainian side, over the past 45 days, its forces have conducted a systematic air campaign targeting 12 major oil refineries located deep within Russian territory. The attacks, believed to have been carried out using long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have caused severe damage, significantly disrupting and reducing Russia's total refining capacity.
The objectives of this campaign are clear:
To paralyze the fuel supply: The attacks aim to cut off the supply of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for Russia's war machine operating in Ukraine.
To hit the Kremlin's wallet: The oil industry is the main source of Russia's state budget revenue. Destroying refineries not only reduces domestic production but also directly impacts Moscow's export capabilities and foreign currency earnings.
To create psychological pressure: By bringing the war to Russia's key industrial regions, Ukraine intends to demonstrate its long-range strike capabilities and create a sense of insecurity within Russia itself.
Fierce Retaliation from Russia
In response, Russia has continuously carried out large-scale retaliatory strikes using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and fleets of suicide UAVs against Ukrainian territory. Moscow's primary targets have been Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including power plants, electrical substations, and energy storage facilities.
These attacks have caused widespread power outages in many major Ukrainian cities, severely affecting the lives of millions of people and industrial operations. Russia's goal is to weaken Ukraine's defense capabilities and will to fight by crippling its economy and creating a humanitarian crisis in the coming winter.
A New and Dangerous Phase of the Conflict
This "infrastructure war" marks a dangerous escalation, showing that both sides are prepared to attack each other's vital economic targets. Instead of solely focusing on frontline battles, the conflict has now expanded, becoming a race to deplete the economy and the war-fighting capacity of the other. International observers fear that this cycle of attack and retaliation could continue to escalate, leading to even more devastating consequences for both nations.
