President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian airspace is effectively closed as daily drone attacks disrupt aviation, prompting Russian authorities to consider shifting defense costs onto industrial power consumers while severe fuel shortages persist across the country.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy Issues Airspace Warning as Drone Volume Surges
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a stark warning regarding the safety of Russian airspace, declaring that the skies over the world’s largest country are now dominated by unmanned aerial vehicles. Speaking during his nightly address, he cautioned international airlines, insurers, and travelers that routine operations have become entirely unsafe.
Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,
Zelenskyy said, noting that drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the remarks, characterizing them as a declaration of state terrorism. Meanwhile, aviation risk advisors note that the sheer volume of launched craft has forced continuous disruption across major transit hubs.
“Ukraine has consistently launched more than 500 drones near daily, with multiple days exceeding 1,000 drones, according to figures released by the Russian [Ministry of Defence].”
Mark Brace, head of analysis at Osprey Flight Solutions, via Al Jazeera
These intensive aerial operations have expanded dramatically in reach. Ukraine reports its deep-strike range has grown from about 630km (390 miles) in 2022 to 1,750km (1,090 miles) this year, with projectiles reaching targets as far away as Omsk, approximately 2,500km from Ukraine.
Federal Antimonopoly Service Drafts Transmission Tariff Increases for Businesses
To absorb the financial shock of protecting national infrastructure, Russian authorities are weighing a policy shift that would pass the financial burden onto industrial consumers. A draft order circulated by the Federal Antimonopoly Service proposes allowing electricity network companies to incorporate specialized security and reconstruction expenses directly into transmission tariffs charged to large enterprises.
The regulator has specified that household electricity rates will remain completely untouched by these adjustments. Utilities would be permitted to account for protective structures, armed personnel, drone countermeasure systems, and actual reconstruction costs incurred between 2022 and 2025.
These rate hikes will not be implemented automatically across the nation. Adjustments require explicit decisions by federal or regional authorities in designated areas, and utilities must rigorously justify all claimed expenditures to regulators.
Yevgeny Grabchak Reports 8.5 GW of Damaged Power Generation Capacity
The push to alter energy tariffs follows extensive physical damage to the nation’s power grid. Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Yevgeny Grabchak reported that approximately 8.5 GW of power generation capacity was damaged or taken out of service due to external influence during the 2025–26 autumn-winter period.
Energy analysts point out that grid operators face severely constrained funding alternatives. Doctor of Economics Dmytro Stapran noted that recent drone strikes created unplanned financial obligations for energy firms that were entirely absent from initial corporate business plans.
Because direct state budget subsidies remain limited, energy companies must rely almost exclusively on transmission tariff revenues to cover these mounting operational and security expenses.
Slavneft-YANOS and Afipsky Refineries Targetted Amid Domestic Fuel Crisis
While grid operators struggle with defense costs, Ukraine continues a sustained campaign against petroleum processing facilities. Ukrainian forces struck the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, sparking a fire at the massive enterprise.
The Slavneft-YANOS facility processes roughly 15 million tons of oil per year, translating to approximately 300,000 barrels per day. Earlier in the week, strikes also hit the 180,000-barrel-per-day Afipsky refinery in the Krasnodar region.
These continuous strikes have aggravated a broader domestic fuel crunch that began in the spring. Gas stations in major cities have faced extended shortages, long queues, and fuel rationing across multiple regions.
| Refinery Facility | Location | Approximate Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Slavneft-YANOS | Yaroslavl | 300,000 barrels per day |
| Afipsky Refinery | Krasnodar region | 180,000 barrels per day |
Future Security Pressures and Regional Tariff Disparities
As daily strikes persist across Russian territory, the intersection of compromised aviation, strained refinery outputs, and damaged electrical infrastructure creates compounding economic pressures. While commercial oil refineries have managed to maintain profit margins despite the attacks, heavy industrial consumers face sharply rising operational costs.
Utility rates are poised to jump particularly sharply in the occupied Luhansk region, highlighting how localized security demands translate directly into regional cost disparities. Whether these targeted tariff adjustments will provide sufficient capital for grid operators to fortify their networks against ongoing aerial incursions remains an open operational question for the remainder of the year.