Russian forces have initiated a new, intense phase of bombardment against Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, by targeting petrol stations with jet-powered drones. Over a two-day period, three separate facilities have been struck, marking a significant escalation in the conflict's impact on civilian infrastructure.
According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, strikes on two petrol stations on Friday morning resulted in at least two deaths and 12 injuries. These attacks followed a similar strike on a petrol station on Thursday, which was the first of its kind observed in the city. All three targeted stations are operated by Ukrnafta, a state-owned oil and natural gas extraction company.
In the Pochaina neighbourhood of northern Kyiv, witnesses reported two explosions at a Ukrnafta facility, which local authorities later described as a double-tap attack. The blast injured the manager of a nearby car wash, his wife, and the driver of a passing vehicle, leaving the car shattered and blood-stained. Anastasiia Demchenko, 30, who works at a delivery firm opposite the site, described the current situation as one of the war's most difficult periods, noting that life feels like it is on the edge.
A separate strike in the densely populated Desnianskyi district was described by a nearby car wash manager, Fedir Lesovin, as a near-miracle that no one was killed. Workers at the petrol station were able to reach a nearby shelter after hearing air-raid sirens, and a customer waiting outside also managed to escape to safety after spotting the incoming drone.
Sergiy Fedorenko, the acting head of Naftogaz, the parent company of Ukrnafta, condemned the attacks, stating that there is no military objective behind them. He characterized the strikes as terror directed at the civilian population. A list of 18 petrol stations in Kyiv, including the three that have already been hit, reportedly circulated on Telegram on Wednesday.
The strikes occurred while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on an overseas trip to secure international aid ahead of the winter season. On Thursday, Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss support for Ukraine's drone stocks. Meanwhile, Kyiv has faced daily drone and missile attacks since late August, amid reports that Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of Patriot interceptors. In a separate development, Ukrainian special forces reported striking oil facilities at the Caspian Sea port of Makhachkala earlier this week.
