Ukraine's new missiles and drones cause gas shortages in Russia,
Zelenskyy says
[October 09, 2025]
By HANNA ARHIROVA
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Strikes on Russian oil fascilities by Ukraine’s
newly developed long-range missiles and drones are causing significant
gas shortages in Russia, while on the battlefield a recent Ukrainian
counter-offensive has derailed Russia’s plans to capture parts of the
eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
Ukraine’s new Palianytsia missile has hit dozens of Russian military
depots, Zelenskyy said. The Ruta missile drone, meanwhile, recently
struck a Russian offshore oil platform more than 250 kilometers (150
miles) away in what Zelenskyy called “a major success” for the new
weapon.
Also, swarms of Liutyi and Fire Point long-range drones — up to 300
units in one operation — have hit Russian energy facilities, and
Ukrainian forces recently fired Neptune and Flamingo missile systems at
Russia, the Ukrainian leader said.
Russian fuel shortages and higher imports indicate that Ukraine’s
attacks are working, Zelenskyy said at a news briefing Wednesday. His
remarks were embargoed until Thursday.
“The main thing is that (Russia is) now importing gasoline — that’s a
signal,” he said. Ukrainian intelligence reports show Russia has boosted
imports from Belarus sixfold and removed import duties, while also
bringing in fuel from China.
“According to our data, they’ve lost up to 20% of their gasoline supply
— precisely after our strikes,” Zelenskyy said.
Russian officials have made no public comment about possible gas
shortages.
The successes with weapons designed and manufactured by Ukraine are a
welcome development for Kyiv after more than three years of fighting
Russia’s invasion, as Moscow deploys its bigger army and economic
resources in an attempt to crush its neighbor.
Ukraine has received Western military aid but has been frustrated by
restrictions imposed by the United States and European allies on deep
strikes into Russia, out of fear of escalating the war.
Ukraine has poured huge efforts into weapons development and has fast
become a global center for defense innovation.
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Workers inspect a Flamingo cruise missile at Fire Point's
secret factory in Ukraine on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem
Lukatsky, File)
Zelenskyy said he wants the United States to provide Ukraine with
additional long-range weapons, specifically naming American-made
Tomahawk missiles that can carry large warheads but which Washington
has previously refused to provide.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been frustrated in his efforts
to end the war by Russian objections, said earlier this week that he
has “sort of made a decision” on whether to send Tomahawks to
Ukraine. He did not elaborate.
“At the last meeting I did not hear ‘no,’” Zelenskyy said of his
request for Tomahawks, adding that U.S. officials had agreed to work
on the question at a technical level.
A delegation led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko is due to
travel to the U.S. early next week for talks about air defense,
energy cooperation, sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets
to fund Ukraine’s war effort.
On the battlefield, Zelenskyy said the most intense fighting remains
around Pokrovsk and Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region, where
Ukrainian troops have launched a counter-offensive operation he
described as “very difficult but very timely — and successful.”
“This operation derailed Russia’s summer offensive campaign,” he
said, adding that what he said was Moscow’s plan to occupy much of
the Donetsk region by November had failed.
Russian commanders have been ordered “to take Pokrovsk at any cost,”
he said, citing intercepted Russian military communications.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine has contingency plans to protect its
natural gas infrastructure, which has been the target of heavy
Russian attacks in recent weeks as winter approaches.
“We have Plan A and Plan B,” he said. “Plan A is to rely more on our
own extraction. Plan B … is to switch to imports. We understand the
volumes, the cost of those imports, and where to get the necessary
funds.”
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