Digest of Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities

April 19, 2026April 19, 2026

As known, the oil depot in Hvardiiske primarily serves combat aviation, storing and dispensing fuel for air operations. The Feodosia base acts as a hub for receiving, storing, and distributing fuel to consumers across the peninsula. Ukraine’s Defense Forces finished off the ferry and, as part of the Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities, immediately shifted focus to the Feodosia oil depot.

We waited so long for a strike on this oil depot for two reasons. First — obvious: deprive fuel from those few Black Sea military flotilla assets. Second — symbolic. Precisely these assets are the most covered across all Crimean territory.

On the night of April 18, something finally flew there. This means either enemy air defense already degraded to such degree that such strikes became possible, or Ukraine’s Defense Forces destruction means reached a new technological level that negates air defense capabilities in such locations. You can consider bonus that the target itself sits in the very city center. Therefore, strikes on it were visible and audible from practically any Sevastopol location. Well, the fire and smoke column that went into sky could be observed even from outside city limits.

The Black Sea Fleet in the usual understanding of this word has long ceased to exist. But the fleet’s main oil depot somehow existed. As we know, over a third of ship composition including flagship — cruiser Moskva — got destroyed long ago. Another part of ships are seriously damaged and need significant repair efforts. Also destroyed are the fleet’s reserve command post and fleet headquarters complex. So it turns out key fleet objects already got destroyed, but the oil depot and ammunition storage remained.

But fuel is always fuel. Since Sevastopol oil depot remained the last valuable asset in the once-main fleet base, Good Birds¹ flew there yesterday effectively and beautifully.

Considering our specialists perfectly mastered “finishing” tactic, it’s not excluded Birds will visit there once more, maybe more than once. Recent strikes on Russian oil facilities demonstrate systematic approach to eliminating critical infrastructure across multiple regions simultaneously.

Not Only Crimea

Looks like revenge for the massive February 16 strike continues and won’t stop only at Tuapse. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in one night, strikes hit two refineries at once in Samara Oblast — Novokuybyshevsk and Syzran. Most likely there they again knocked out primary oil purification units since these get attacked first. But eyewitnesses write it burns suspiciously long. Therefore, not excluded it hit somewhere else too.

But that’s not all yet. Tikhoretsk oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai went under the knife. But most important — they hit one more oil-loading port in Leningrad Oblast — Vysotsk. This is a new name since Primorsk and Ust-Luga, attacked earlier, were always on everyone’s lips.

Overall it turns out that over recent weeks, Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit five ports: Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Vysotsk in the Baltic Sea and Novorossiysk with Tuapse in the Black Sea. Slightly earlier they struck Taman port in the Azov Sea. All this together testifies that our military implements practical sanctions on Russian oil and oil product export. The escalating strikes on Russian oil facilities reveal coordinated strategy targeting both production and export infrastructure across three seas.

Enemy Blogosphere Glumly Contemplates

Meanwhile, enemy blogosphere glumly contemplates what already seems inevitable. After all, everyone understands that the dynamics of hitting oil industry objects will inevitably lead to situation when quantity turns into quality. If earlier you couldn’t reason about this publicly, now they openly write this there:

Fuel deficit in regions became even closer. Sources in oil and gas industry reported worsening situation with fuel processing and transportation. Constant strikes on our refineries and other strategic objects significantly affect fuel supply capability — both abroad and inside Russia.

For now regions have reserves, but not everywhere. Obviously in May a noticeable deficit of gasoline and diesel may begin. Especially in the south, Far East. Possibly even Moscow.

Three Ships Hit in Crimea

In conclusion, it should be noted that this same night, by forces of SBU Special Operations Center “Alpha” in Crimea, they hit three ships: landing ship Yamal, landing ship Azov, and one more ship whose name is being clarified. About damage character, nothing is known yet. But probably by end of day there will be full clarity on this. Overall, the enemy received full feedback for its massive raid. Definitely won’t be otherwise anymore. The comprehensive strikes on Russian oil facilities across Crimea, Baltic, and Black Sea regions represent Ukraine’s systematic response to mass attacks — practical sanctions implemented through precision strikes.

¹Good Birds – slang for strike drones. Why “good”? Because they bring “warmth and light” to enemy military factories, ammunition depots, and oil refineries. Sarcastic? Of course. Effective? Even more so.