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By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
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Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil facilities are paying off—so much so, even Russian President Vladimir Putin can't ignore how effective Ukraine's pressure campaign has become.
"Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol isn't always easy," Putin said in a meeting with oil executives and top government officials over the weekend.
"Problems persist for both motorists and businesses," the Russian leader added, according to a Kremlin readout.
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Putin's remarks are a rare public acknowledgment of the strain Ukraine's dogged targeting of Russia's oil and gas facilities is putting on Moscow as Kyiv tries to make it more expensive for Russia to continue its war effort.
Russia is a major oil exporter and relies on this revenue to keep its economy going, especially because it dedicates so much of government spending to the military. Russia's army also needs fuel to make sure it can sustain its tanks, armored vehicles and logistics operations in south and eastern Ukraine.
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And Ukraine shows no signs of slowing down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday Ukrainian drones traveled more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) to the east to hit a major oil refinery in the Russian city of Ufa, north of Kazakhstan. Kyiv said it also targeted a facility southeast of Moscow making parts for missiles.
Zelensky shared footage showing two columns of smoke rising up from beyond what appears to be a residential area. Newsweek could not independently verify this clip.
Ukraine previously attacked two oil refineries in Ufa on June 25, and said on Sunday it had hit two facilities in Russia's Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions.
Ukraine has targeted eight of out Russia's 10 largest oil refineries, Russian independent outlet Meduza reported on Monday. Some of Russia's refineries have been attacked multiple times.
Putin said on Sunday Russia had completely banned exports of oil and jet fuel exports to prioritize Russian customers, and was debating banning diesel sales abroad.
At least 56 Russian regions have now introduced fuel restrictions, according to independent Russian outlet, Mediazona, and fuel prices at some gas stations have soared, reports indicate.
Russian-installed authorities in Crimea last month imposed a ban on fuel sales to members of the public, with only emergency and military vehicles able to fill up at gas stations on the peninsula.
Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Crimea in recent weeks, often using medium-range drones to isolate the territory from Moscow's control.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and Ukraine has vowed to reclaim the peninsula.
It is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, and the control of Crimea, along with other parts of Ukraine to which Russia has staked an annexation claim, is the thorniest issue of now-stalled peace talks between the two neighboring countries.
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As blackouts stalked the peninsula's largest city, the port of Sevastopol, Russian-backed officials announced a state of emergency in Crimea last week. Tourist activities like summer camps have been stopped, and public transport scaled back.
"We must minimize the impact of terrorist attacks on our peaceful, civilian facilities and infrastructure," Putin said.
Kyiv says its strikes on oil facilities are a fair response to Russia's missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday Russia had fired 151 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight. Air defenses intercepted the missile and 130 of the drones, according to the country's military.
In its own statement, Russia's defense ministry said on Wednesday it had shot down 179 Ukrainian drones over Russian and annexed territories, as well as over the waters of the Black Sea and Azov Sea overnight.
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