Map of Russia shows critical infrastructure blown up by Ukraine this week

Ukraine has hit 10 critical infrastructure sites in Russia this week after carrying out several drone and missile strikes. Kyiv has made a concentrated effort throughout the war to hit numerous Russian oil depots, refineries, manufacturing facilities and more to damage Moscow’s ability to continue fighting.

Newsweek’s The map below illustrates which facilities Kyiv hit with drone and missile strikes this week.

Newsweek contacted the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment by email outside business hours.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s strikes on 10 Russian energy facilities this week are significant because they are part of a concerted effort by Kiev to not only damage Moscow’s ability to continue financing the war, but also damage one of its key industries in terms of trade. Ukraine carried out more than 80 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and depots in 2024, and since the beginning of the new year they have continued this effort to damage these facilities that power Russia’s military and economy. Further, rebuilding these facilities is expensive, as Carnegie Russia Center senior fellow Sergey Vakulenko previously wrote that they are “probably in the neighborhood of tens of millions of dollars per facility.”

Moreover, despite Western sanctions hampering Russia’s oil trade, Moscow’s economy depends on oil to survive and is already suffering. For 2024 alone, Russia’s Ministry of Economy increased its estimated oil and gas export sales to $239.7 billion.

What to know

Ukrainian forces carried out a drone strike on January 10, launching 40 Ukrainian drones over Rostov, Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk, Krasnodar, Belgorod and the Sea of ​​Azov, some of which hit several targets reported to be secret military facilities, including the Chaltyr Brick Plant, which broke into fire.

Kyiv then hit the Taneco oil refinery in Russia’s Tatarstan region, more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from the front lines, on January 11 in an airstrike. One of Russia’s “largest and most modern refineries,” the facility is crucial to funding Russia’s war effort, as it can process more than 16 million tons of oil each year. The air strike caused a fire to break out at the site.

Russia also accused Ukraine of attacking the Russkaya compressor station, which supplies gas through the Turkish Stream pipeline, in an attempt to “disrupt gas supplies to European countries” on January 13. The pipeline transports gas from Russia to Turkey and supplies gas to southern parts of Europe, allowing Moscow to avoid using Ukraine as an intermediary for transit. Nine Ukrainian drones hit the compressor station in the village of Gai-Kodzor in the Krasnodar Territory, and although the Russian Defense Ministry said all the drones had been shot down, debris from one of the drones damaged the site and equipment less. This strike followed the end of the Ukraine-Russia gas transit agreement with the new year, halting the movement of Moscow’s gas to Europe.

Ukrainian forces also hit the Bryansk Chemical Plant overnight on January 14 in an attack with Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, after using drones to “distract” Russian air defenses. The facility is known for sustaining Russia’s military industry by producing gunpowder, making parts for rockets and explosives, and producing ammunition.

Kyiv also hit Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk, Orgsintez chemical plant in northern Kazan, Kristall oil refinery in Engels, Kazanorgsintez plant in Kazan and Aleksino chemical plant that night, according to Kiev independent. The attack on the Kristall oil refinery caused a fire to break out and burn for several days, affecting the Engels-2 airbase that it serves. Aleksino’s chemical factory also caught fire during the strike. Ukraine attempted to target other nearby chemical plants using “six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six UK-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 31 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles,” according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Overall, the drone and missile strike targeted 12 regions, including Oryol, Saratov, Voronezh, Sumy and Tula, and the Republic of Tatarstan.

Ukraine targeted an oil depot in Voronezhin southwestern Russia, and carried out several drone strikes on the facility on January 15. There were no injuries. Newsweek is unable to independently verify the report made by Governor Alexander Gusev.

What people say

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Julia Mendela former spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote the X: “Ukrainian military attack oil depot near Russian Voronezh. The depot stored fuel which was supplied to the Russian military on the front line.”

Tymofiy Mylovanovthe president of the Kyiv School of Economics, wrote the X: “Ukraine’s developed ability to strike deep inside Russia with drones at targets such as fuel depots, weapons factories and remote military bases. This brings a war home to Russia and limits its ability to earn oil export revenues.”

He added: “The bottom line is that two sides can play any game Russia starts. If Russia attacks Ukraine with drones, Ukraine will develop capabilities and retaliate. Missiles are more difficult, but it is probably also a matter of time for Ukraine.”

What happens next

Ukraine’s continued strikes on Russian energy facilities could end the war sooner than Moscow wants as the country falls deeper into debt.