FT: U.S. Intelligence Helps Ukrainian Drones Effectively Target Russian Oil Refineries

The effects of these attacks are being felt throughout Russia.

The reason Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have become significantly more effective may be due to assistance from U.S. intelligence. According to the Financial Times reports, citing Ukrainian officials, the U.S. is helping Kyiv map out optimal routes for drones so they can bypass the Russian air defense system.

According to the publication’s sources, this specifically involves intelligence data that allows for more accurate calculation of the drones’ flight paths. Washington has not yet officially acknowledged its role in these operations.

However, the increased effectiveness of these strikes is not solely due to American assistance. Analysts cited by the Financial Times attribute this primarily to a technological breakthrough by Ukraine itself: the country has sharply increased its production of long-range drones, established mass production, and improved their control systems. This was noted, for example, by Stefan Meister, head of the Eurasia Program at the German Council on Foreign Relations. The appointment in January of a new minister responsible for digital technologies is also cited as an additional factor.

The scale of this strike campaign has already reached unprecedented levels. According to data from the Polish analytics firm Rochan Consulting, cited by the FT, a monthly record was set in May—16 successful strikes on oil refineries. And since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian drones have attacked Russian oil refineries at least 194 times—11 times more often than during the same period a year earlier.

The Russian Ministry of Defense, for its part, claims that it shoots down the vast majority of Ukrainian drones. According to official data from the ministry, nearly 64,000 drones were intercepted over Russian territory and the occupied Ukrainian regions during the first half of 2026, with half of those intercepted in the last two months.

As the FT notes, the sharp increase in the number of reported interceptions indirectly confirms that Ukraine has significantly increased the number of drones it is launching and that Russian air defense systems are under serious strain.

The consequences of these attacks are being felt throughout Russia. Strikes on energy infrastructure have forced more than half of the country’s regions to impose strict restrictions on fuel sales, and people are waiting in line for hours at gas stations.

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