Ukrainian Strike Forces Hit Tuapse Refinery for Third Time as Drone Campaign Targets Russian Fuel Exports

Ukrainian Strike Forces hit the Tuapse oil refinery again, destroying 24 tanks and disrupting Russian military supplies. Read the full report on the drone war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 8:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Ukrainian Strike Forces (USF) and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A Sustained Aerial Campaign Against Strategic Energy Assets

Operators from the 1st Separate Center and the 413th Raid Regiment of the Ukrainian Strike Forces (USF) conducted a successful drone operation against the Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse early Tuesday morning. This latest strike marks the third time in April that the facility, located in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, has been targeted by Ukrainian aerial assets. According to the USF, the mission was carried out in close cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces to systematically degrade Russia's capacity to process and export petroleum products. The General Staff confirmed the attack, noting that the enterprise is a primary supplier for the Russian military operations currently unfolding in Ukraine.

The Cumulative Destruction of the Tuapse Infrastructure

The ongoing offensive against the Tuapse refinery has resulted in significant structural damage over the course of three weeks. The first wave, initiated on April 16, targeted key technological units and sparked a fire that burned for several days. This was followed by a strike on April 20, which focused on the port infrastructure and finished product storage areas. Internal reports from the USF indicate that the first two attacks successfully destroyed 24 fuel tanks and damaged four others. While the specific scale of the damage from the April 28 operation is still being clarified, local footage and official statements confirm another massive fire has broken out on the facility's grounds.

Expanding the Scope to Radar Systems and Command Posts

Beyond the energy sector, Ukrainian units reported a series of precision strikes against Russian military hardware in occupied territories. A notable target included the Ai-Petri radar station belonging to a radio-technical battalion, located near Okhotnyche in occupied Crimea. By neutralizing these surveillance assets, the Ukrainian Defense Forces aim to create blind spots in Russia’s regional air defense network. The General Staff highlighted that these strikes are part of a broader tactical push to disrupt the command-and-control hierarchy of the Russian forces stationed across the southern and eastern fronts.