Ukraine has destroyed 49 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet this week, with 14 new attacks on July 10, 2026, deepening the chaos at Russian petrol stations. Almost all of the lost vessels were oil tankers supplying fuel to Crimea and other Ukrainian territories annexed by the Kremlin.
Catastrophic fuel crisis grips Russia
Independent Russian news outlet Meduza analyzed oil trading data and described the situation as 'simply catastrophic.' The Kremlin is scrambling to hide the consequences, but the fuel shortage is evident. The volume of trading fell to 53% of January levels, while prices rose to 146%.
'The authorities are trying to keep information about the extent of the damage to Russian oil refineries secret,' Meduza reported. 'Under these circumstances, the fuel shortage can be indirectly assessed, for example, by analysing exchange trading data. We have studied this data. The picture resembles a collapse.'
Strikes on Taganrog port and oil depot
Ukraine also staged crippling overnight strikes on Taganrog port, triggering an inferno at the Kurgannefteprodukt oil depot and forcing an emergency evacuation of residents. Queues for petrol are growing and prices escalating, even in faraway Siberia, as President Vladimir Putin refuses to halt the war or abandon his aim of seizing the entire Donbas region.
Impact on Russian agriculture
The fuel crisis is also damaging Russia's harvest. 'The 2026 harvest season is turning into a nightmare for Russian farmers, who are facing a shortage of diesel fuel, restrictions on its sale, and rising prices,' the Moscow Times reported. 'The shortage of diesel fuel for combine harvesters and other equipment is particularly acute in key southern regions.'
Ukraine targets military trucks
Footage also highlighted Ukrainian kamikaze drones targeting military trucks filled with Russian occupiers in the rear areas of the Luhansk region. Russia, the world's second-largest oil producer, is now seeking to import supplies due to the damage caused by Ukrainian drones.
