Zelenskyy reveals how strikes on Russian refineries and the Druzhba pipeline shook Moscow — and what allies say
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Attacks by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries and the Druzhba pipeline are already having a tangible impact on Russia. Against the backdrop of fuel shortages, logistics are collapsing, as Ukraine's partners acknowledge, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters on September 19.
The head of state said that Ukrainian drones have already proven their effectiveness.
“We have drones, we know how to produce them. It all depends on the number of drones we use per day. I think the results of recent operations show that we have started to use more drones. But it is still not enough for the targets I set for our manufacturers and the Ministry of Defense,” he said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukrainian production of long-range drones has now reached a level where everything depends solely on funding.
"As soon as the number of drones is comparable to the Russian ones, they will feel it in terms of fuel shortages and quantity. We are seeing this more and more. They are flying a little further. Today, it is only a financial issue," the president explained.
He separately noted the use of long-range drones to strike military facilities and warehouses, which are already having an impact.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine's partners support its logistical operations because they are not directed against the civilian population, but against military infrastructure.
“We all believe that the logistics operation is one of the strongest today. The logistics operation is when the Russian airports are not working. There is no destruction of the civilian population - I am talking about the reaction of our partners. Because the civilian population is alive, and the Russian logistics are not working,” the president emphasized.
Strikes on Druzhba
The first strikes on Druzhba were delivered in early August. On the 13th, a transformer was damaged at the Unecha distribution station in the Bryansk region.
On the night of August 18, unmanned aerial systems launched their first strike on the Nikolskoye oil pumping station in the Tambov region. The strike caused a fire.
After the Ukrainian attacks, oil pumping through the Druzhba main oil pipeline was completely stopped.
On August 21, drones struck the Unecha station again, stopping oil pumping to Hungary and Slovakia.
The Unecha station is the largest and most important hub in the Russian oil transportation system. Oil is transported through it to the port of Ust-Luga, through which up to 20% of oil is exported. Supplies are also made to the oil refinery in Mozyr (Belarus).
