Social discontent turns into riots in Russia: Result of strikes on Kremlin's energy sector

[Starmix]

According to the report, the serious fuel shortage in Russia is accelerating discontent among citizens. Now the predictions are that if the situation continues like this, social unrest in Russia will be inevitable. It is also noted that Ukraine's new tactics are calculated to increase social discontent in Russia. Ukraine has dramatically increased the number of attacks launched against Russian oil refineries in recent months, sparking fuel shortages and price rises in some parts of the country. Drone strikes on refineries - some deep inside Russia - soared in August and remained high in September, an analysis of Russian media reports and verified footage showed. Some 21 of the country's 38 large refineries, where crude oil is converted into usable fuel like petrol and diesel, have been hit since January, with successful attacks already 48% higher than the whole of 2024.


The report also stated that between 20 March and 30 June 2025, using open sources and satellite imagery, the OSINT community CyberBoroshno recorded 19 confirmed hits on defence plants, five on military facilities, and none on energy infrastructure. For a long time, Ukraine showed restraint and stuck to what had been agreed, refraining from striking energy infrastructure. However, after relentless Russian attacks on Ukraine's power facilities in which Ukrainian civilians lost their lives, unilateral restraint no longer made sense, and drone operators began to strike Russian oil refineries and pipelines again. In August and September 2025, CyberBoroshno was able to confirm 30 attacks on energy facilities on Russian territory. Of these, 23 were successful, 2 were unsuccessful, and 5 were inconclusive. The strikes on Russia's oil refining infrastructure follow a clear and consistent logic. Importantly, many of the strikes now target essential equipment, rather than oil tanks as in the previous campaign, according to Ukrainskaya Pravda.

 

[gwolf666]

The growing fuel shortage in Russia reflects both the economic pressure of war and the effectiveness of Ukraine’s changing tactics. By targeting oil refineries and key energy infrastructure, Ukraine is striking at one of Russia’s most critical sectors — its fuel supply. This strategy not only impacts military logistics but also the daily lives of citizens, who are now facing rising prices and shortages. In my opinion, this kind of internal disruption is a calculated move designed to weaken Russia from within, by fueling public frustration and eroding confidence in the government’s ability to maintain stability. If the situation continues, social unrest seems almost inevitable, as economic stress often transforms into political tension. What makes this particularly concerning is that Ukraine’s attacks are now more precise, focusing on essential refining equipment, signaling a long-term plan to cripple Russia’s capacity to recover quickly from these strikes.