Ukraine says major Russian oil refinery and airfield hit, as Moscow reports eight deaths

bbc ^ | Aug 2 | Jaroslav Lukiv

[RandFan]

Ukraine has said it carried out overnight strikes deep inside Russia, hitting a major oil refinery and an airfield that houses Russian strategic aviation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Engels airfield and the refinery, both in the Saratov region some 600km (373miles) from Ukraine's border, were hit. An oil depot was also struck in Kaluga region and a drone launch site in Bryansk.

Russia said eight people were killed in the Ukrainian strikes, and 635 drones shot down or intercepted. It also reported yet another strike on a warehouse of Russia's biggest online retailer Wildberries.

Meanwhile, Moscow said its forces attacked overnight two Ukrainian ports and two vessels in the Black Sea.

Later on Sunday, Ukraine said one person was killed in a Russian strike on a postal terminal near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.

Both Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified attacks focusing on major cities, energy facilities and warehouses, as the vast front line remains virtually static and US-led mediation attempts to end the war have shown no breakthrough.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

[canuck_conservative]

Open season on Russian targets ... they’re all undefended because all the AA missiles are protecting Pootin’s Palace

Happy hunting!

[catnipman]

it’s not the number of drones and missiles shot down, but the number that were NOT shot down, and Russia doesn’t seem to publish THOSE numbers ...

[unclebankster]

The infrastructure damage to both Ukraine & Russia isn’t very impressive compared to the size of both countries & the length of the conflict.

The Russia Ukraine War has turned into the “pinprick war”
.

[roadcat]

It also reported yet another strike on a warehouse of Russia's biggest online retailer Wildberries.

This will make Russia end the war. Wildberries is like their Costco, Amazon and other retailers rolled into one. Multiple strikes on Wildberries outlets is really hurting Russian shoppers.

[adorno]

it’s not the number of drones and missiles shot down, but the number that were NOT shot down, and Russia doesn’t seem to publish THOSE numbers ...

The number of drones shot down by Russia, are highly exaggerated. But another thing that Russia isn't aware of or that they will never acknowledge is that, most of what they did shoot down were decoys, where Ukraine might send 100 drones for the attacks, but 90% of them are of the cheap varieties with no payloads or explosives on-board. The rest will get through with their payloads, and destruction of the targets are always assured. Meanwhile, Russia will have spent millions of dollars with expensive anti-missile missiles and expensive drones to try to take down the Ukrainian drones and missiles. The costs to Ukraine are very minor compared to what Russia had to spend trying to shoot down the drones and missiles.

Ukraine can replace the shot down drones and missiles, while Russia can't replace their oil refineries and Wildberries and military targets.

[adorno]

Multiple strikes on Wildberries outlets is really hurting Russian shoppers.

More hurtful to Russians than the destruction of warehouses, is the lack of gasoline/fuel, where Russians are having to wait in mile-long queues and 5-10 hours just for less than half a tank of fuel. Fuel makes the world go round and all economies run on fuel, and people can't get to their jobs with empty tanks.

[Miami Rebel]

The Ukrainians have only recently had the technological and logistic advancements to bring the war to the Russian homeland.

About 30% of Russian refining capacity is now offline. That alone is HUGE. And now Wildberries all over the country are being targeted and destroyed.

For over 3 years, the privileged Russian cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow were spared the toll of the war. Most of the frontline cannon fodder was drawn from poor ethnicities to the east.

Now you have gas lines throughout the country, and even St. Petersburg and Moscow, residents can see towering fires from their kitchen windows.

Imagine how demoralizing it would be to Americans if an Iranian missile struck an Amazon in Amarillo or a refinery in Baton Rouge.

This new phase is tearing at the fabric of Russian society and for the first time Russian Z-influencers are speaking of failure and are blaming Putin.

So, unlike you, I’m terribly impressed by the new Ukrainian initiatives. Till recently it was an existential war only for them while being just a special military operation for the Russians.

[roadcat]

I would be hurting if Costco warehouses got bombed; would lose out on $5 whole chickens and cheap gasoline. I’ve seen news accounts of Russian motorists trying to get gasoline, they’re abandoning cars and trucks on roads because the vehicles get empty while waiting for gas queues to move. No gas, no food, no jobs - that sucks.

[dfwgator]

I would be hurting if Costco warehouses got bombed; would lose out on $5 whole chickens and cheap gasoline. I’ve seen news accounts of Russian motorists trying to get gasoline, they’re abandoning cars and trucks on roads because the vehicles get empty while waiting for gas queues to move. No gas, no food, no jobs - that sucks.

---

As Yevgraf Zhivago put it, Russians have a ‘cursed capacity for suffering.’

[Gunslingr3]

The infrastructure damage to both Ukraine & Russia isn’t very impressive compared to the size of both countries & the length of the conflict.

The Russia Ukraine War has turned into the “pinprick war”

Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (July 2026 analysis): As of mid-June, an estimated one-third of Russia’s refining capacity was offline at a single point in time. Ukrainian drones had hit 24 of 34 plants (covering ~5.1 mb/d, or ~81% of total capacity), though not all were offline simultaneously.

Energy Intelligence (June 11, 2026): Nearly one-third, or about 2.14 million barrels per day (mb/d).

Financial Times reporting (late July 2026): More than 30% of operating/actual capacity and ~45% of nominal capacity disabled, contributing to Russia’s most severe fuel crisis since the Soviet collapse.

Other industry/IEA/Reuters-cited trackers through June: roughly 33–40%

1/3rd of capacity offline and 2/3rds of refineries struck seems like more than a 'pinprick'.

The Russian Special Military Olympics continue to impress with their incompetence.

[unclebankster]

So, unlike you, I’m terribly impressed by the new Ukrainian initiatives. Till recently it was an existential war only for them while being just a special military operation for the Russians.

******************

“To Each Their Own” & “Time Will Tell.”

[catnipman]

Very interesting about the decoys!

[adorno]

they’re abandoning cars and trucks on roads

Not to mention the other 'real krap' they leave behind on the sides of the road because, there are no toilet facilities nearby.

I read some weeks ago that the fastest rising business in Russia, is the construction of port-a-potties to be placed on roads leading to gas stations for the desperate customers waiting at long gas lines which last 5-10 hours before getting to the gas station.

[TexasGator]

"I read some weeks ago that the fastest rising business in Russia, is the construction of port-a-potties to be placed on roads leading to gas stations for the desperate customers waiting at long gas lines which last 5-10 hours before getting to the gas station."

[Cedar]

I’ve been limiting my online time for months, so this may be a dumb question to ask. But does Ukraine really have that many advanced engineers, etc., to develop these advanced drones and weapons, or is it more behind-the-scenes U.S. supplying them and instructing?

[TexasGator]

“Wildberries is like their Costco, Amazon and other retailers rolled into one. Multiple strikes on Wildberries outlets is really hurting Russian shoppers.”

Not outlets. Warehouses that contained supplies critical to the war effort.

[TexasGator]

“I’ve been limiting my online time for months, so this may be a dumb question to ask. But does Ukraine really have that many advanced engineers, etc., to develop these advanced drones and weapons, or is it more behind-the-scenes U.S. supplying them and instructing?”

We are importing drones and drone technology from Ukraine.

[Cedar]

So, Ukrainian engineers are more advanced than all the U.S. engineers. Surprising.

[Reily]

They have good engineers. Nothing concentrates the mind like an existential reason for working.

They’re even teaching our bloated arthritic defense establishment a thing or two - speaking to you Boeing!