Ukrainian drones hit Krasnodar's Poltavskaya oil depot for the third time in weeks
Three fuel tanks ablaze near occupied Crimea as Kyiv presses its campaign on Russia's refining and logistics, deepening a domestic diesel crunch
Summary
Ukraine struck the Poltavskaya oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight into June 25, setting three fuel storage tanks alight, the third hit on the same facility in roughly three weeks. The depot supplies fuel to Krasnodar and the Adygea republic and sits near occupied Crimea and the Black Sea supply corridor. Russia's defence ministry said air defences downed 269 drones over the country between 8pm and 7am Moscow time and blamed the fire on falling debris rather than a direct hit. The strike is part of Kyiv's sustained campaign on Russian refining and logistics that has cut gasoline output and pushed Moscow toward a diesel export ban.
Why it matters
The depot raids feed a worsening Russian fuel crisis: gasoline output is down about 25% year on year, and Moscow is weighing a full diesel export ban while importing fuel by sea. Hitting distribution near Crimea raises the operational cost of sustaining forces in the south.
What to watch
- Whether the Kremlin formalises the diesel export ban this week.
- Tempo of Ukrainian strikes on refineries versus depots as targets shift.
- Russian air-defence reallocation to protect southern energy nodes.