Ukraine Hit 10 Russian Refineries, 5 Plants in March
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- Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on April 2, 2026 that its forces struck 10 Russian oil refineries and 5 strategic plants during March 2026, framing the campaign as "a systematic effort to dismantle the enemy's war machine."
- A satellite image showed damage at a Russian oil refinery in Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, which Ukraine attacked on March 28, 2026.
- The U.S. temporarily waived sanctions on Russian oil in March 2026 in response to a global oil crisis triggered by its attack on Iran.
- Ukraine has been wary that the U.S. sanctions waiver would let Russia reap fresh energy revenue to bankroll its war, motivating the refinery strike campaign.
- The Defence Ministry statement released the specific tally of 15 total March targets — 5 plants and 10 oil refining facilities — as part of what it called a "systematic" effort to degrade Russia's war economy.
Why it matters: The U.S. sanctions waiver was intended to stabilize global oil markets after the U.S. attack on Iran caused an energy crisis, but it left Russia free to keep exporting crude. Ukraine's 15 March strikes on 5 plants and 10 refineries show Kyiv treating Russian energy infrastructure as a direct military target to choke off the revenue the waiver would have unlocked.
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