Key facts
- Ukraine has struck Russia's Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week.
- Attacks have impacted a third of Russia's oil refining capacity.
- Petrol shortages and rationing are occurring in over half of Russia's regions.
- Ukraine has struck a missile component manufacturer.
- Ukraine conducted drone strikes on July 2.
- A railway bridge in occupied Luhansk was targeted.
- A Ukrainian drone injured two drivers on a tourist bus near the Krasniy Kamen border crossing.
- Ukraine has established a state mechanism to export its weaponry.
- Partner countries can now buy Ukrainian weapons and technologies directly from manufacturers.
Ukraine has escalated its offensive operations against Russian infrastructure, employing domestically developed drones and missiles to strike key targets. The Ufa oil refinery has been hit for the second time in a week, an attack that, along with others, has impacted approximately one-third of Russia's oil refining capacity. This disruption has resulted in petrol shortages and rationing across more than half of Russia's regions.
President Zelensky confirmed that strikes targeted a missile component manufacturer and an oil refinery, characterizing these actions as part of a new technological phase in the war. Ukraine's defense minister highlighted that drone strikes on Crimea are central to this strategy. Beyond military and economic targets within Russia, Ukraine also conducted drone strikes on July 2 on a major Russian oil refinery and a railway bridge in occupied Luhansk, aiming to degrade Russia's military and economic capabilities. In a separate incident near the Krasniy Kamen border crossing, a Ukrainian drone injured two drivers aboard a tourist bus traveling from Minsk, Belarus, to Anapa, Russia; Ukraine has not commented on this specific event.
In a significant development for its defense industry, Ukraine has launched a state mechanism to export its weaponry. This initiative aims to raise funds for Ukraine's defense sector while ensuring its own military needs are prioritized. The mechanism allows partner countries to purchase Ukrainian weapons and technologies directly from manufacturers, signaling Ukraine's growing capacity as an arms producer and exporter.