Retaliatory Strikes: Ukraine Intensifies Attacks on Gas Stations in Belgorod and Kursk Regions

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have significantly stepped up strikes on Russian gas stations in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

The online news outlet Agentstvo reported this after analyzing statements from local authorities and coverage by regional media.

According to the outlet’s findings, at least 25 attacks targeting gas stations were recorded between Monday and Thursday this week.

Of those, 24 occurred in the Belgorod region and one in the Kursk region. Local authorities confirmed 21 of the attacks in the Belgorod region.

The primary targets were gas stations in the city of Belgorod and its surrounding suburbs.

The strikes targeted gas stations operated by Rosneft, Gazprom, Lukoil, and Teboil. Attacks were also reported on fuel stations in Shebekino, Prokhorovka, and Valuyki.

According to the outlet, the pace of the attacks was the highest recorded during the summer so far.

Overall, at least 43 attacks on gas stations were recorded in Russia’s Belgorod region in July, compared with nine in June.

In Russia’s Kursk region, the number of such strikes increased from four in June to eight in July. Two attacks on gas stations in the Bryansk region were also reported in June.

The increase in attacks on Russian gas stations may be a response by Ukraine to Russian strikes on fuel stations in Ukraine’s frontline regions, including the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Gas stations in the Belgorod and Kursk regions are likely targeted more frequently because of their proximity to the Ukrainian border, allowing the use of shorter-range drones.

In June, Russia began intensifying attacks on gas stations in Ukraine’s frontline regions. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on these strikes, although attacks on such facilities by Russian forces had also occurred earlier.