Ukraine Forms New Command to Intensify Strikes on Russian Energy, Logistics

Ukraine is establishing a new special command within its armed forces dedicated to long-range strikes, a move aimed at escalating economic pressure on Russia by targeting its energy and logistics infrastructure. The announcement by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formalizes a strategy that has already shown signs of impacting Russian commodity markets and its ability to fund the war.

In a national address, Zelenskiy stated he signed a decree to create a command for "long-range and, in effect, global impact on Russia." He added, "This command must focus 100% of available resources on further reducing Russia’s capacity to wage war."

Strikes Disrupt Russian Energy and Shipping

The formation of the new command follows a series of increasingly effective Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russian territory. For months, these strikes have targeted critical economic assets, which Kyiv views as a form of direct sanctions on Moscow's state budget.

Recent operations have had a measurable effect on Russia's energy sector:

• On Friday, Ukraine's general staff reported strikes on the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar and the Ust-Luga oil complex in the Leningrad region.
• An oil terminal and depot in the Rostov region were also reportedly hit.
• As a result of such attacks, Russian domestic gasoline output has fallen to approximately 65% of capacity, according to industry sources and Reuters calculations.

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These disruptions have created significant domestic fuel shortages, prompting Moscow to ban diesel exports on Wednesday. The pressure extends to maritime logistics, with Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, stating that strikes have damaged nearly 50 fuel vessels in five days, shrinking Moscow's "shadow fleet."

Broader Economic Consequences

The campaign's impact is spreading to other key sectors of the Russian economy. Following attacks on tankers, Russia temporarily halted shipping through a critical channel linking the Don River with the Sea of Azov, according to two grain export industry sources.

Experts estimate this disruption could affect nearly one-quarter of Russian wheat exports in the area, posing another significant economic threat. While these successful strikes represent a strategic shift for Ukraine, experts caution that it is too early to determine if they have turned the tide of the conflict, as Ukraine remains vulnerable to Russian missile attacks.