Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Will Strike Russian Refineries in Response to Moscow's Air Campaign

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will strike Russian oil refineries in response to what he characterized as a new Russian doctrine of airstrikes, according to CNBC.

Zelenskyy said the shift in Moscow's approach was driven in part by President Vladimir Putin's desire to project strength at a time when Russian forces were losing ground in a key frontline region. By framing Ukraine's refinery strikes as a direct response, Zelenskyy positioned the policy as both retaliatory and strategic, aimed at pressuring Russia's energy infrastructure.

Energy infrastructure as a target

Strikes on oil refineries have featured prominently in the war's economic dimension, with both sides seeking to degrade the other's energy capacity and, by extension, its ability to fund and sustain military operations. Russian refineries have been targeted periodically throughout the conflict, and Zelenskyy's comments suggest Ukraine intends to continue or intensify that approach going forward.

The Ukrainian leader's remarks also point to a broader narrative Kyiv has promoted: that Russian military actions, including intensified aerial campaigns, stem from setbacks on the ground rather than strength. Independent verification of battlefield momentum in specific frontline regions remains difficult given restricted access to the areas in question.

The announcement comes amid continued fighting along multiple fronts, with both Ukraine and Russia regularly adjusting their military and economic pressure tactics as the war continues.