Russia is reducing the number of active oil wells — Zelenskyy
Russia is facing increasingly severe economic problems: oil production and refining are declining, the banking crisis is worsening, and the federal budget deficit has already reached nearly $80 billion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this on Telegram.
According to him, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has obtained internal Russian documents assessing war losses, which the Russian authorities are trying to conceal.
One of the key indicators, according to the president, is the reduction in active oil wells. Just one Russian oil company—which is not the largest in the market—has already shut down about 400 wells.
Zelenskyy noted that these are significant losses for Russia, as the specific nature of oil production makes restarting such wells a complex process.
In addition, oil refining in Russia decreased by at least 10% in the first months of 2026.
Also, according to data cited by the president, the banking crisis in Russia is intensifying: 11 financial institutions are preparing for liquidation, while another eight are in critical condition and cannot survive without external support.
The Russian federal budget deficit, according to Zelenskyy, has already reached nearly $80 billion, while a significant portion of regional budgets are effectively bankrupt.
Separately, the president stated that Ukraine has documented attempts to export grain from the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as efforts to attract Western investment and technology to Russian Arctic oil and gas projects.
On the night of May 17, a number of Russian military-industrial complex and energy facilities in Moscow and the Moscow region were struck. Strikes were carried out on an oil depot in Durikino, an oil refinery in Kapotnya, the Angstrom microelectronics plant, and the Raduga Design Bureau, which develops cruise missiles.
On the morning of May 16, Moscow also came under attack by drones, causing airports in the Russian capital to temporarily suspend operations.
