A widespread fuel crisis has gripped multiple regions across Russia, with gasoline shortages and fuel rationing reported, forcing drivers to wait hours for fuel. This disruption follows Ukrainian drone strikes that targeted Russian oil facilities and set two oil tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov on Thursday. The attacks came just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defense systems, a move that secures significant future profits for the military-industrial complex.
Ordinary residents are bearing the direct costs of this escalating conflict. In the southern region of Stavropol, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed oil reservoirs in Vyazniki were set ablaze by Ukrainian drones. Authorities ordered the evacuation of residents from several apartment buildings near the facility as the fire expanded, displacing working families from their homes. Crews from the two burning oil tankers in the Sea of Azov were also evacuated, highlighting the immediate danger to maritime workers.
Ukrainian defense forces struck an oil depot in Tver, according to acting governor Vitaly Korolyov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed additional hits on a reserve fuel storage facility located about 800 kilometers from the front line, an oil-pumping station in Ufa nearly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, and an oil-loading terminal in the Rostov region. These coordinated attacks aim to cripple the infrastructure vital for Russian capital accumulation and military logistics.
The Cost of Capital's Conflict
Zelenskyy framed these strikes as part of Kyiv’s campaign of “long-range sanctions,” a response to Russian attacks and Moscow’s refusal to end the war. He stated, “We have long proposed that Russia end this war, and every day of delay should bring the feeling of war to where it all began — to Russia.” This strategy, while presented as a solution, directly translates into hardship for Russian working people facing fuel scarcity.
Both sides continue to deploy destructive force. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses downed 73 Ukrainian drones from late Wednesday until early Thursday. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia fired 94 long-range strike drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine last night. While 72 drones were jammed or intercepted, 19 drones and both missiles inflicted damages at 13 locations, ensuring the cycle of destruction continues unabated.
Imperial Garrison's Reach
During Wednesday’s meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump announced the U.S. would give Ukraine a license to make Patriot air defense systems. This decision represents a substantial gain for the U.S. military-industrial complex, extending its market reach and ensuring continued demand for its technology in the more than four-year war. It is a direct transfer of wealth from public coffers to private defense contractors, under the guise of aid.
The tone of the meeting marked a stark contrast to an earlier, acrimonious encounter at the White House in February 2025, about 1 year and 5 months ago, when Trump had berated Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Trump praised the Ukrainian leader’s willingness to reach a deal to end the war, saying he has “done an amazing job” and “been very effective.” This shift in rhetoric coincides with the opening of new avenues for military capital accumulation, revealing the transactional nature of imperial diplomacy. The promise of a "deal" is offered alongside the provision of advanced weaponry, ensuring the conflict's continuation and profitability for those who supply its instruments.