3 October 2026
Ukraine is stepping up its long-range strikes against Russia’s oil industry while moving toward mass production of its own ballistic missile. Ukrainian forces have targeted major oil facilities in Russia, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed the first successful combat use of the Ukrainian FP-7 tactical ballistic missile, UATV English reports.
On the night of October 2, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck key oil facilities in Russia’s Samara and Volgograd regions, Zelenskyy reported. The targets included LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka, one of Russia’s largest oil refineries with an annual capacity of around 15 million metric tons, as well as a major oil receiving, storage and blending facility in Samara region. Both facilities contribute to supplying the Russian military.
“Important results are being achieved virtually every day. During this day, oil facilities in the Samara and Volgograd regions of Russia were hit,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukrainian forces had also conducted successful operations against airfields, industrial facilities, refineries, a missile and space center and an ammunition arsenal in several Russian regions.
Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure has already affected more than 45% of the country’s oil-refining capacity, according to the source. Moscow has responded with restrictions on fuel exports amid shortages and rising prices across Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has confirmed the first successful combat use of its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile. Zelenskyy released footage of the missile’s launch and said the next stage would be moving the project into large-scale serial production.
“Ukrainian tactical ballistic capability. FP-7. First combat use. Thank you for the result. Next — production,” Zelenskyy said.
The FP-7 was developed by Ukrainian defense company Fire Point. It is a surface-to-surface tactical missile launched from a ground-based platform, which can be mobile. According to the developers, the missile has a maximum range of 200 kilometers, a warhead weighing up to 150 kilograms and a top speed of around 1,500 meters per second. The system has been compared with the U.S. ATACMS, while reportedly costing several times less.
The Wall Street Journal noted that if Ukraine succeeds in establishing mass production of its own ballistic missiles, it would join a relatively small group of countries possessing such capabilities. Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the development was positive for Ukraine, while stressing that much would depend on the missile’s characteristics and the speed at which it could be produced.
Russia has also moved to restrict information about its fuel industry. Putin signed a decree limiting access to data on fuel production, refining and sales, including information about sellers and buyers. Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said the move was intended to conceal the actual state of the Russian economy from the public.
At the same time, Ukraine is expanding its air-defense capabilities. Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Ukrainian forces currently intercept around 57% of Russian jet-powered drones and up to 90% of other UAVs. Ukraine is also testing five new interceptor-drone designs aimed at countering the growing use of Russian jet-powered drones.
Four interceptor models are already undergoing combat testing, while around 10 additional manufacturers are conducting their own trials. According to Ukrainian officials, countries that have signed drone-cooperation agreements with Kyiv could gain access to Ukraine’s latest technologies for countering Russian jet-powered UAVs.
Ukraine is also strengthening cooperation with the European defense industry. Zelenskyy signed legislation ratifying an agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on the country’s participation in the European Defence Fund, opening new opportunities for Ukraine’s defense industry and potentially enabling direct EU funding for testing innovative technologies in Ukraine.