Russian drones struck petrol stations in Kyiv for the second consecutive day on Friday, September 11, 2026. This escalation in aerial attacks is part of a broader campaign reportedly aimed at unsettling civilians and disrupting daily life in Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian officials have indicated that these assaults form a part of Russia’s strategy to weaken morale and cause chaos among the population.

According to the State Emergency Service, two petrol stations in the Dniprovskyi and Obolonskyi districts were hit within a span of ten minutes. The strikes resulted in injuries to five individuals, including a rescue worker. Authorities in Kyiv have cautioned residents against remaining near petrol stations or other vulnerable infrastructure during air raid alerts, highlighting the ongoing threat to civilian safety.

Ukrainian Retaliation and Strikes in Russia

Amid these developments, Ukraine has reportedly intensified its own drone strikes targeting sites deep within Russia, including a successful strike on a refinery located over 3,000 kilometres away in Siberia. This counter-offensive is aimed at undermining Russia’s vital oil sector, contributing to fuel shortages within the country, which is one of the world’s leading energy producers. Reports indicate that Russia’s oil product exports fell to record lows in August, leading to an increased need for imported fuel from countries such as South Korea and India.

A recent report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air noted a significant increase in Russian fuel imports. The data showed that Russia had to import 172,000 metric tons in August, a record number that exceeded previous monthly highs by more than seven times. The striking change in Russia’s refining capacity underscores the effectiveness of Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Also on Friday, the city of Pavlohrad observed an official day of mourning for five individuals killed in Wednesday’s drone strike targeting shopping malls. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported on platform X that 67 people sustained injuries during that attack. Ukraine’s military operations continue to put pressure on Russian air defences, as the conflict escalates.

Civilian Casualties and Ongoing Conflict

In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, another drone assault wounded a 32-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son when drones targeted a nine-storey apartment block and a shopping mall. The State Emergency Service reported that firefighters faced obstacles in extinguishing the fires due to the persistent danger of further drone assaults, forcing them to take shelter intermittently.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have successfully repelled a significant Ukrainian drone attack on the night of Thursday to Friday. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that air defence systems intercepted 777 Ukrainian drones across sixteen regions, including occupied Crimea and the Azov and Caspian seas. Local officials reported casualties in a Ukrainian strike in the Tula region, south of Moscow, where two people died and three others were injured.

The conflict continues to intensify, with Ukraine progressively expanding its long-range campaigns targeting Russian energy infrastructure while Russia retaliates with strikes on civilian sites in Ukraine. The recent series of attacks serves to highlight the escalating nature of this ongoing drone war in the region, causing further international concern regarding civilian safety and the overall humanitarian impact of the conflict.

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