Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt Russian summer, fuel shortages and travel chaos

Ukraine's intensified drone campaign caused widespread disruption across Russia this summer, triggering fuel shortages, flight cancellations, and warehouse fires that brought the war home for many civilians. Over 43,300 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia and annexed Crimea from June through August, according to Defense Ministry data, compared to about 7,700 in the same period last year. Attacks hit oil refineries, e-commerce hubs, and airports, leading to long gas lines and travel chaos. The turmoil comes ahead of Russia's Sept. 18-20 parliamentary election, the first since the full-scale invasion. While the outcome is largely predetermined, analysts say the summer's events have worsened economic assessments and slightly reduced President Vladimir Putin's approval rating to 76% in August, down from 87% in September 2025.