A convoy of Russian fuel tankers en route to Crimea was hit by Ukrainian drones, resulting in two of the three tankers bursting into flames. Footage shared by Robert ‘Magyar’ Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, shows the moment of the attack, with three red tankers visible in a convoy down an empty stretch of road.
The Ukrainian forces successfully struck two of the tankers, which could be seen going up in flames with plumes of smoke as they flew off-road. Mr. Brovdi wrote on Telegram, ‘Crimea is having a hard time getting gasoline, - one out of three…’
This attack is part of a larger effort by Ukrainian forces to disrupt Russia’s fuel supply. Russia has been experiencing a summer fuel crisis due to months of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries across the country. As a result, fuel rationing has been introduced in several regions, with long queues forming at petrol stations.
Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged the severity of the fuel shortages, stating that ‘problems persist for both motorists and businesses.’ However, he insisted that the shortages are ‘not critical’ and ‘temporary.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has framed these attacks as part of a ‘long-range sanctions’ tactic against Russian facilities that ‘serve the war effort and finance the aggression.’ He highlighted recent strikes on strategic facilities in Russia, including the Saratov Oil Refinery and the Engels military air base.
President Zelensky praised the Ukrainian Defense Forces for their role in expanding the country’s long-range capabilities and delivering precise results. He stated, ‘We are bringing the war back to where it came from.’
