Ukraine was able to identify a weakness in Russia's air defense system and exploit it - ISW
Ukrainian forces have identified a weak link in Russia’s air defense system and are actively exploiting it.
This is stated in a new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Several Russian military ships and coastal infrastructure were damaged during the strike on Sevastopol. The Yaroslavl oil refinery is one of the key facilities in Russia’s fuel system.
According to the ISW, in the last two weeks alone, Ukraine has carried out at least 10 strikes on oil and gas infrastructure across Russia. This is confirmed by geolocated footage.
Analysts cite several reasons that make such attacks possible:
- Russia’s air defense system is overloaded and cannot keep up with all threats;
- Ukraine is ramping up production of its own drones;
- the range and number of strikes have been steadily increasing since March 2026.
It is precisely the overload of the enemy’s air defense that allows Ukraine to hit targets that were previously practically out of reach.
Russia is suffering losses not only on its own territory. Strikes are also being recorded in Russian-occupied territories—particularly in Crimea.
Since March 2026, the intensity of such attacks has increased significantly. Ukraine is not only increasing their number but also striking farther and with greater precision. Two more
oil refineries in Russia have halted operations following drone strikes.
In Tuapse, drones attacked an oil refinery with fuel tanks.
Defense forces destroyed convoys carrying the occupiers’ fuel near Luhansk – video.
