Ukraine warns Russia will reap consequences of renewed winter energy strikes
Ukraine’s Armed Forces answered a Russian threat to freeze the country this winter by pointing to fires at Russian oil refineries.
Ukraine has warned Russia that any renewed winter energy strikes will lead to consequences, pointing to the fires at Russian oil refineries as evidence. The Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraine's Armed Forces shared this message on Telegram, alongside an AI-generated image, in response to a similar image posted by Russia's Defense Ministry.
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation, assured the public that the response would be reciprocal, noting that Russia’s Ministry of Defense has warned Russians about potential energy shortages by posting images of drones and missiles. He emphasized that Ukraine is responding to Russia’s actions, stating, "Now Russians will know who to thank when they have no electricity this winter, when some of them have no heat and when fuel is scarce."
Kovalenko added, "Responding in kind always works. You reap what you sow." The Ukrainian drone strikes have caused significant disruptions in Russian oil refining, with output of refined petroleum products expected to remain low even into 2026. In August, Russian refinery throughput is projected to drop to 4 million barrels a day due to unplanned repairs and shutdowns.
Reports indicated that renewed Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries have left at least 16 Russian regions without fuel. This fuel shortage contributed to a record drop in Vladimir Putin’s approval rating, falling by 5 percentage points to 66%, the lowest since early 2022. Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with attacks involving 20–25 drones at a time, a 36% increase from the first half of 2025.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukraine hopes its strikes, combined with Western sanctions, could force Russia to end the war this fall. Shmyhal warned that Russia is now attempting to destroy water supply systems before winter. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for 5% of the United States’ Patriot missiles to help Ukraine survive the winter, as Russia aims to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and economic stability.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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