Ukraine has escalated its drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, striking at least 10 refineries, pumping stations and fuel trains this month, according to tallies by CNN. Forbes estimates the facilities hit in August represent around 74.6 million tons of annual processing capacity—roughly one-third of Russia’s total refining output. The attacks have knocked an estimated 10–15% of Russia’s refining capacity offline, Franceinfo reported, leading to fuel shortages from Crimea to Vladivostok. Wholesale gasoline prices on the St. Petersburg exchange have risen about 10% in August and nearly 50% since January, despite Moscow’s earlier export ban aimed at stabilising domestic supply. One recent strike damaged the Druzhba (“friendship”) pipeline near the Belarus border, a conduit that delivers crude to Hungary and Slovakia. Asked whether the raids might sway Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s bid to begin European Union accession talks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the fate of the pipeline now depends on Budapest’s stance. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the comments “intimidation” and demanded Kyiv “stop attacking our energy security.” The dispute underscores mounting diplomatic tension inside the EU, even as Ukraine argues that degrading Russia’s fuel production undercuts Moscow’s war effort and raises the economic cost of continuing the invasion.