Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Oil Sites and Set Tankers on Fire

Ukrainian drones struck Russian oil facilities and set two oil tankers on fire in the Sea of Azov on Thursday. The attacks caused fires at oil storage sites in at least two Russian regions. This came just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump promised to let Ukraine build its own Patriot air defense systems. The Patriot system is a powerful weapon that can shoot down missiles and drones in the air.

Ukraine's repeated strikes on oil refineries and fuel storage sites across Russia have led to a serious fuel crisis. In many Russian regions, gas stations have run out of gasoline, and drivers have had to wait hours just to fill their tanks. Some areas have even begun rationing fuel, meaning people can only buy a limited amount at a time.

Early Thursday morning, a Ukrainian drone hit an oil storage depot in the city of Tver in western Russia, starting a large fire. The acting governor of the region, Vitaly Korolyov, confirmed the strike. Fires like this one destroy fuel supplies that Russia needs to keep its military and economy running.

In Russia's southern Stavropol region, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said Ukrainian drones set oil reservoirs on fire in a town called Vyazniki. The fire grew large enough that local authorities ordered people living in nearby apartment buildings to evacuate. Officials worked to keep residents safe while firefighters battled the blaze.

In the Sea of Azov, Ukrainian drones set two oil tankers on fire. Rostov Governor Yuri Slusar said one of the ships was still burning and that the crews had been safely evacuated. These attacks are part of Ukraine's plan to stop fuel from reaching Russia-occupied Crimea, a peninsula Russia seized years ago.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 73 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 94 long-range drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. While 72 of those drones were jammed or destroyed, 19 drones and both missiles caused damage at 13 locations inside Ukraine.

On Wednesday, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Turkey. Trump announced that the United States would give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, which Ukraine has wanted for a long time. This was considered a major win for Ukraine because the Patriot system can intercept, or shoot down, incoming missiles.

The meeting between the two leaders had a very different feel from an earlier meeting in February 2025, when Trump and Zelenskyy had a very tense and angry argument at the White House. This time, Trump praised Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian leader had done an amazing job and had been very effective. Trump also said he believed Zelenskyy was willing to work toward a deal to end the war, which has now been going on for more than four years.