Ukraine drones force Russia's Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery to suspend operations, governor confirms

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure has claimed a fresh target, with the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery suspending operations after a direct strike, the regional governor confirmed on Friday. The attack comes as Moscow was already rationing fuel following an earlier wave of drone strikes, piling pressure on Russian supply chains.

The Novoshakhtinsk refinery suspension marks a significant escalation in Ukraine's targeting of Russian fuel production capacity.

Moscow's fuel rationing, triggered by earlier drone strikes, signals the cumulative toll of Ukraine's energy infrastructure campaign is beginning to bite.