04/27/2026
The economic situation in Russia is noticeably deteriorating due to Ukrainian long-range strikes on oil refining and oil transshipment facilities on the territory of the aggressor country. The GUR and SZR record a significant deterioration in key indicators of the Russian economy and significant export losses of the aggressor after the first quarter of 2026.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this on Telegram following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters. He noted that one of the main issues was the reports of Ukrainian intelligence.
According to Zelensky, representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Service reported on the state of the Russian economy after the first quarter of the year. According to their data, Russia is experiencing a significant deterioration in economic indicators, as well as significant losses in exports.
The President emphasized that despite Russia’s attempts to use the war in the Middle East to stabilize the financial situation, this did not yield the expected result for the aggressor.
A negative result for the Kremlin was provided by Ukrainian “long-range sanctions” – strikes on Russian oil facilities, which are key sources of income for the Russian Federation, particularly in the export sector.
“Despite the Russian leadership’s attempts to use the war in Iran to improve the financial situation, the real results for Russia are negative. In particular, our long-range sanctions are working on this. We will continue our pressure on the aggressor,” Zelensky stressed.
As a reminder, Ukraine is increasing the intensity of strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and Russian military facilities. The Ukrainian military is exploiting vulnerabilities in the overloaded Russian air defenses to strike targets on Russian territory – as far as Chelyabinsk, almost 2,000 km from the Ukrainian border.
Thus, on April 26, the General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops had struck the Yaroslavl Oil Refinery in the city of Yaroslavl . A fire broke out at the plant.
This refinery is capable of processing about 15 million tons of oil per year and produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel.
As OBOZ.UA reported, ISW analysts noted that since about March of this year, the Defense Forces have been steadily increasing the range, volume, and intensity of their long-range strike campaigns against Russian oil infrastructure and military facilities in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine. Recently, even Chelyabinsk, located more than 1,800 km from the Ukrainian border, came under attack.
This is good news, but Ukraine must continue its type of sanctions. They are essential in helping the mafia state collapse.