Ukrainian drone strikes are disarming Russia’s energy weapon
Since the start of 2026, Ukraine has increased drone strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure, causing the country's worst fuel crisis since the Soviet Union's collapse. By late August, over 70 percent of Russian gas stations reportedly lacked fuel, prompting export bans, fuel rationing in more than half of Russia's administrative regions, and first-time gasoline imports from India. The crisis has also affected occupied territories and Central Asian states, with Tajikistan having about sixty days of fuel reserves and Kazakhstan reducing energy exports after damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium infrastructure.
Why it matters: This development directly impacts the theme of energy security and geopolitical leverage, as it undermines Russia's ability to use energy as a coercive tool and weakens its influence in its near abroad.