Russian nuclear chief accuses Ukraine of striking fuel trucks

Ukraine is currently experimenting with an automated warning system aimed at alerting gas stations to incoming Russian drones, as Russian aggression escalates against the nation's fuel infrastructure, stated Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi on September 12. The initiative was unveiled following a gathering with fuel market operators and officials from various government agencies, including the Energy, Economy, Finance and Infrastructure ministries, the National Security and Defense Council, State Emergency Service, and Interior Ministry.

Participants deliberated on constructing additional protective structures around above-ground infrastructure and providing shelters for personnel and customers. Koretskyi explained that a software system under testing would monitor the trajectory of approaching drones and enable facilities to prepare for potential threats. The system is designed to automatically notify gas station complexes when hostile drones are detected nearby.

Should the pilot tests at gas stations prove successful, the technology is expected to be extended to other businesses. The ministers were directed to expedite the implementation process. The meeting also encompassed an evaluation of Ukraine's fuel reserves, logistics, and pricing. Rising global oil prices, driven by events in the Middle East and supply chain disruptions, are impacting the Ukrainian market as well, Koretskyi reported.

The gathering resulted in a plan of action for rail shipments and simplifying customs procedures for fuel tanker trucks, inspired by measures implemented in 2022. Russian attacks have increasingly targeted warehouses and fuel stations, with Russian forces intensifying assaults on distribution centers and warehouses of Ukrainian retail chains such as Silpo, Fora, NOVUS, VARUS, ATB, and Metro.

On September 10, a Russian drone hit an Ukrnafta gas station in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district, igniting a fire and injuring four individuals. On September 11, Russian drones targeted Ukrnafta gas stations in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi and Obolonskyi districts, resulting in two deaths and eight injuries. The latest attack on a gas station in Rivne Oblast on September 12 left two people dead.