President Vladimir Putin travelled to the Tuapse refinery in 2013 to launch Russia's most powerful oil-processing unit. Thirteen years later, the facility symbolizes Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russia. An FT analysis shows damage at major refineries persists for months. The Ukrainian campaign knocked out 30 and 45 per cent of Russia's actual and nominal refining capacity, triggering the worst fuel crisis since the Soviet collapse.

Strikes target critical Soviet-designed components. In late April, Tuapse was hit, destroying 80,000 cubic metres of storage and a modern secondary processing unit. Omsk, 2,500km from the border, lost a vital desalting unit. Experts say damage to processing units causes far longer outages than storage tank strikes.

Satellite imagery reveals slow repairs. Night-time radiance fell 30 per cent near struck refineries for over 13 months. Kstovo refinery remains offline since May strikes. Russia faces severe fuel shortages with sales restrictions nationwide.

Russian defences have expanded but are overwhelmed by drone swarms. A businessman compared the tactic to a medieval cavalry wedge: nets stop one drone, but "when three hit the same point, it is physically impossible" to stop them.