The war between Russia and Ukraine is not just about land or power — energy has become a big part of the fight. This could be a warning sign for how future wars might also focus on energy.
Calling it an “energy war” is not an exaggeration. But it’s not about fighting over oil, gas, or minerals. It’s about destroying energy systems like power plants, oil refineries, and electricity lines. These are now key targets for both Russia and Ukraine.
Why Attack Energy Infrastructure?
After Russia failed to take over Kyiv early in the war, it changed its strategy. It began attacking three main things: civilians, the military, and Ukraine’s power grid — focusing mostly on the last two.
Ukraine started hitting back at Russia’s energy sites in 2024. That’s when Western countries allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons across the border. Ukraine then began striking Russian oil refineries and storage sites.
These attacks caused major damage to several big refineries far from the border, including ones near Moscow and the Caspian Sea. More than 15 others were hit at least once.
In 2025, Ukraine began using drones it built itself. This means it no longer needs outside permission to carry out strikes. On June 1, a large drone attack called “Spider’s Web” showed that even targets deep inside Russia are not safe. If Ukraine used this kind of attack again on oil refineries, it could be a huge problem for Russia’s government.
Why Ukraine and Russia Attack Energy Sites
Ukraine and Russia attack energy sites for different reasons, but some of their goals are similar.
Ukraine’s Strategy:
Ukraine mainly targets oil refineries and fuel storage sites. These places produce and store valuable fuels like gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel. These fuels earn more money than crude oil and help fund Russia’s war. Also, they are easy to damage because they contain flammable liquids and gases. Data from the past two years shows Ukraine is focusing more on these kinds of attacks.
Russia’s Strategy:
Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy system to weaken the country and make life harder for its people. These attacks have been especially harsh during the fall and winter, when people need electricity and heat the most.
One of the worst attacks was on the Kakhovka dam, a major hydropower plant on the Dnieper River. It exploded in June 2023, flooding towns and villages. Many people drowned or went missing. Russia blamed Ukraine, but there is evidence that Russian forces have attacked at least six other similar facilities.
At the beginning of the war, Russia also took over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine. This plant is the biggest in Europe, even larger than any in Russia. It has been hit by gunfire, drones, and explosions, damaging some parts. UN nuclear experts have visited and confirmed that all six reactors are shut down and there has been no radiation leak so far.
Raphael Grossi, head of the IAEA, said that “the dangers to nuclear safety are still very real and ongoing.” The agency had to send teams to the Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine nuclear power plants after Russian attacks caused power cuts, which briefly affected the systems that keep the reactors cool.
Even though workers made fast and brave repairs, more than half of Ukraine’s power grid has been damaged. Meanwhile, Russia has told its military not to hit the main gas pipelines that go through Ukraine. They hope to use these pipelines again to send gas to Europe if they win the war. However, Ukraine stopped the last gas flow through these pipelines on January 1, 2025, ending 60 years of connection.
Looking ahead, if peace is reached, Ukraine will need to spend billions of dollars to rebuild its energy system so it can properly support its people and economy again.
Published: 10th June 2025
For more such articles, please follow us on Twitter, Linkedin & Instagram
Also Read:
Smart Investment Tips Amid Changing Economic Conditions
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In June 2025
Top Performing Stocks and Sectors in the Current Market
